Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/553115
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST 2015 53 Sport BOXING FOOTBALL CYCLING Former Valletta FC president dies aged 60 ENTREPRENEUR and former Valletta FC president Charles Camilleri died yesterday aged 60. Camilleri, affectionately known as is-Sur Karm, was a very popular figure in the capi- tal and served as Valletta FC president between 2004 and 2007. Camilleri was one of four brothers at the helm of the Camilleri Group which operates in three sectors: confectionery, catering and retail. The 60-year-old entrepreneur also served as president of the La Vallette band club. Charles Camilleri Floyd Mayweather answers critics Floyd Mayweather has hit back at critics of his choice of opponent Andre Berto for next month's Las Vegas title bout, which is expected to take him into the history books THE outspoken welterweight king has faced a storm of criti- cism since announcing earlier this week he will face the un- fancied Berto in Las Vegas on September 12, instead of a more dangerous opponent such as Britain's Amir Khan. He is widely expected to beat Berto to equal Rocky Marciano's legendary unbeaten record of 49-0 to cement his own place in the history books. But Mayweather, whose su- per-fight with Manny Pacquiao in May was widely regarded as a one-sided f lop, insisted on Thursday that his meeting with Berto, had box-office appeal. "I have been getting backlash," Mayweather said. "They say no- one in the sport will buy the fight. I picked him because he is an exciting fighter." Mayweather also dismissed suggestions that he should have chosen Britain's former two- time world champ Khan who is considered a tougher opponent and who has been angling for a confrontation with the Ameri- can. "How many championships has Khan won? Two. Berto has won two also," Mayweather said. Mayweather and Berto came face to face in Los Angeles on Thursday for a press conference to launch the countdown to the fight. There was no trash talking but the fighters did get together for a stare down at the front of the podium. Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) thanked Mayweather for the opportuni- ty and his trainer Virgil Hunter spent more time at the podium lavishing praise on Mayweather than he did talking about his fighter. Meanwhile, Mayweather brushed off criticism of his cagey, tactical performance against Pacquiao, which failed to live up to the hype. "My job is to go out there and be a chess player and that is what I did. I found a way to win," he said. Mayweather also reiterated that next month's bout is his fi- nal fight - a claim few commen- tators are taking seriously given that he is likely to face a money- spinning payday for a chance to go 50-0, to beat Marciano's record. Floyd Mayweater and Andre Berto Mark Cavendish set to begin bid for Rio Olympics in Derby BRITAIN'S Mark Cavendish will start a possible bid for Ol- ympic gold in Derby next week. The 30-year-old has won 26 Tour de France stages and the 2011 world title, but so far glory on the Olympic stage has proved elusive. That could change in Rio next summer if Cavendish commits to the six-discipline omnium which he will ride at the Revo- lution Series event, which takes place at Derby Arena from Au- gust 14 - 16. Cavendish said: "I'm looking forward to getting back on track and trying the omnium. "The omnium is a tough event with all the different disciplines so Derby will be a good test and we'll see how things progress from there." Cavendish needs 90 UCI points to qualif y to race in the World Cup events with Great Britain this season and could get 80 of those if he wins in Derby. He may also ride at the 2016 Track World Championships in London next March. Cavendish will also race in the Madison in Derby, where his partner could be Sir Bradley Wiggins. The road race course in Brazil is set to be undulating, so Cav- endish is considering riding on the track, where he has pedi- gree. Wiggins and Cavendish were world champions in 2008 when they finished ninth in the Olym- pic Games Madison in Beijing. Cavendish's next Olympics was a disappointment, too, after finishing 29th in the road race on the opening day of London 2012.