Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/638406
21 Sport maltatoday, Wednesday, 10 February 2016 boxing athletics no comeback urge - Floyd Mayweather Floyd Mayweather says he currently has no urge to make a return to the ring and insists a comeback will only happen "if it is meant to be". The former five-weight world champion called time on his ca- reer last September after he de- feated fellow American Andre Berto in las Vegas and equalled heavyweight legend Rocky Mar- ciano's unbeaten 49-0 record. Mayweather, who has since shifted his focus to his work as a boxing promoter, says he is comfortable with his decision to retire from the sport and is delighted that he can control his own destiny, along with his advisor Al Haymon. "What is meant to be in life is meant to be. If it is meant for me to come back and fight again for the UK fans, then I'll come back," Mayweather said. "But, as of right now, I don't have the urge and I am far away from boxing as possible. I stay away. "once I got to a certain situa- tion, I wanted to be able to con- trol the sport the way I wanted to control the sport. I dictate and control boxing the way I want to dictate and control the sport. Right now, we have all the say so in the sport of boxing, me and Al Haymon." May weather, speaking at his European Victory Tour, also commended British fighter Kell Brook and revealed his disap- pointment that a bout between the IBF welterweight world champion and Amir Khan had not been made. Brook, who will defend his IBF strap against Canadian Kevin Bizier on March 26 live on Sky Sports, had been hoping to secure a fight with domestic rival Khan for the summer. despite initial talks between both camps over a potential clash, Khan has since con- firmed he will fight Mexican Saul Alvarez for the WBC mid- dleweight title on May 7 in las Vegas. "I want to commend you (Brook). you are a true champi- on, you carry yourself as a true professional and I like what he represents in the sport of box- ing. He's a very good boxer, solid puncher and he always goes out there and gets the job done," May weather added. "But I think for the fans, be- cause the UK fans are loyal fans, Amir Khan should have fought Kell Brook, that's just my honest opinion. "I think we should have put the fight on an even playing field. I think he's (Khan) from Bolton, he's (Brook) from Shef- field, so they could have met in the middle in london, made the fight happen on an even playing field." Floyd Mayweather Pierre Borg winner of Elite Category being presented the trophy by Mosta CC President John Magri Mosta Cycling Club launch 2016 Cycling Season with dominant performances THE launch of the 2016 Cycling Season kicked off with a mass start race on the Zebbug By Pass organised by Mosta AF Sign Stu- dio Cycling Club and held under the auspices of the Malta Cycling Federation. The race attracted record number of participants, ninety-nine in all, spread across all eight categories. Strong par- ticipation was also registered by the Club's Academy athletes who are being mentored and are con- sidered to have a bright future in cycling. In the Under 12's categories, thirteen athletes from the Club's Academy undertook one lap (4.5km) of the course. Matthew Galea Pirotta (Mosta AF Sign Stu- dio CC) outsprinted fellow team mate Miguel Galea to the finish line whilst Tristan Aquilina came in third. It was another close fin- ish for the girls' category when Kristina Spiteri (The Cyclist) pipped Justine degiorgio (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) to first place by just two seconds. Mosta AF Sign Studio 's Hannah dandria came in third place. The Under 15's Boys podium was dominated by the Mosta club's ca- dets after having completed three laps (13.5km) of the course. Gian- luca Camilleri emerged the win- ner following an extremely close finish with James Galea. Nikol Micallef came in third place. There was a tense fight to the finish in the Masters 40+ category when Patrick Scicluna (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) clinched first place after a hotly contest- ed race with Michael Camilleri (Team Greens) and Ivan Zam- mit (Birkirkara St. Joseph SC). Zammit had to settle for third place, coming in one second after Camilleri. In the Masters 60+ category it was an uncontested solo ride for Emanuel Camilleri who complet- ed the 10 lap course in a respect- able time of 1:09'55, whilst in the Masters 50+ Michael lia (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) comfortably took first place followed Gejtu Catania (The Cyclist) in second place. In the ladies' division, there was no contest since participants formed part of the National Cy- cling team who are currently training for their forthcoming international commitments in Is- rael in March. The team took the opportunity to use this race as training session on closed roads. In the Juniors category, current National Junior Road Champion Kurt Muscat (Mosta AF Sign Stu- dio CC) continued to show his prowess by edging away from his adversaries Nicholas Attard Mon- taldo (The Cyclist CC) and Bran- don Sultana (Gozo Greyhounds) a 100 metres before the finishing line and sprinting solo to victory. A very strong pace made for a very exciting race from the very start of the 22 lap, 99 kilometre Elite course. With cyclists vying for an early breakaway in order to anticipate the group and avoid a sprint finish, it was however a very attentive pack of Mosta cy- clists who counteracted well for attacks endured. drama unfolded two hundred metres away from the finish line when cyclists, bat- tling for a preferred cycling line, to bring their team leader to the finish line, came too close to each other causing a crash and which saw a number of cyclists fall to the ground resulting in a number of injuries. The split second commo- tion saw Mosta AF Sign Studio's Pierre Borg emerge victorious by out sprinting veteran cyclists Maurice Formosa (The Cyclist) and Steve Sciberras (Agones SFC) to the finish line and completing the 99 kilometre course in a time of 2hrs 40mins. "our thoughts, first and fore- most go to the injured athletes, and we take this opportunity to wish them a speedy recovery. Un- fortunately, in highly contested races, such as what we had on Sunday, these accidents occur al- though thankfully they are few and far between", commented Edward Enriquez, Mosta Cycling Club (MCC) General Secretary. "on a more positive note we are thrilled to see athletes from our Academy come out in full force and perform well, they are the fu- ture of our sport and we are doing our best to nurture these talents". Mosta AF Sign Studio Cycling Club Committee is grateful to all participants, coaches, mar- shals, race officials, time keep- ers, Żebbuġ local Council, Malta Cycling Federation, Qormi Po- lice Station, Malta Traffic Police, Transport Malta and the Emer- gency First Response Team who provided medical services for their assistance in the organiza- tion of this race.