Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/860911
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 AUGUST 2017 49 Sport SAILING BOXING FOOTBALL Sultana awarded Trofeo Del Mare 2017 FROM an original list of twenty- six nominees Wilfred Sultana was one of eight candidates who were eventually awarded the Tro- feo Del Mare 2017 in the seven- teenth edition of an Event which brings to life the many stories of men and the sea along the Medi- terranean routes. The jury's citation on announc- ing Sultana's award referred to him as "A sports journalist, publisher and organizer of national and in- ternational maritime events, con- tributing to the growth of nauti- cal crafts, both as a sport and as in shipping and industrial activity, promoting economic and trade ex- changes between his country and Sicily" The Trofeo del Mare 2017 marks the fifth major recognition award- ed to Wilfred Sultana throughout his active career. The other four were that of 1986 - Sport Offi- cial of the Year (Għaqda Kittieba Sports - Malta), 2013 - Life Career Recognition in Media and Sport (Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports - Mal- ta), 2016 - Life Career Recogni- tion as a Journalist, Publisher and Events Organiser (ONE Tribute Awards -TV/Radio Group) and 2017 - Life Career Recognition as a Journalist, Publisher and Events Organiser (Yachting Malta). A special guest at the Trofeo del Mare 2017 Awards Night was the Hon Dr Angelo Farrugia. Speaker of the House of Representatives who was also invited to present one of the awards. In a short ad- dress Dr Farrugia referred to Mal- ta's maritime commanding role in the Mediterranean throughout the years and the success with which various maritime related el- ements are today embellishing the local economy. The Trofeo del Mare Awards, which this year have been in- cluded among the national events to mark the 120th anniversary of the Lega Navale Italiana, were or- ganised by the Reggione Siciliana, the Lega Navale Italiana (Sezione Pozzallo), the Soprintendenza del Mare and the Comune di Pozzallo. Wilfred Sultana, currently also the Commodore of the Malta Cruising Club, is the fourth Mal- tese personalities to be bestowed with the Trofeo del Mare Award. The other three were Dr Timmy Gambin - Marine Archaeologist in 2011, John Ripard - Yachtsman in 2012 and Francis Portelli - Ship- owner in 2014. Journalist Enrica Simonetti interviews Wilfred Sultana after announcing his Trofeo del Mare 2017 recognition. (photo - Massimo Assenza - Pozzallo) McGregor plans to rule fight game with 'iron fist' Neymar set to pay tax fine, wipe slate clean for Paris MIXED martial arts fighter Conor McGregor says he has become "the face of the fight game" ahead of his upcoming multi-million dollar boxing match against Floyd May weath- er in Las Vegas this month. The 29-year-old Irishman, who has never boxed profes- sionally, told reporters at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas on Friday that his sole concern was getting the win, and that the cash was a second- ary issue. UFC lightweight champion McGregor is due to face the 40-year old May weather, who retied in 2015 with an unblem- ished 49-0, on Aug. 26 in a 12-round super welterweight boxing bout. "I am the face of the fight game, period. And I'll rule over both (boxing and MMA) with an iron fist -- an iron left fist," he told reporters. The fight against "Money" May weather will shoot the brash Irishman into the finan- cial stratosphere, but McGregor said he was not worried about the cash. "The word (money) isn't even in my vocabulary. I'm preparing to win, and to win in devastat- ing fashion," he said. "I don't care about money. As long as I make my correct decisions and don't make stupid decisions, I'm set for life." Wearing a robe made for him by fashion designer Do- natella Versace, emblazoned with his name and "Notorious" nickname in gold on the back, McGregor said he felt in "pris- tine condition" as he had his hands wrapped for the workout. "This is a fight that has been in my crosshairs since Floyd 's been opening his mouth, simple as that," McGregor said of his decision to chase a match-up against one of the greatest box- ers of all time. Both fighters have said that the contest at the T-Mobile Are- na will not go the full 12 rounds. May weather told the media at his workout on Thursday that the fight going the distance would represent a victory for his 29-year-old opponent. "You know what I heard him say yesterday? Nothing," McGregor scoffed when asked about the statement. "I saw a man scared, that's what I saw, I saw a lacklustre workout, I saw a man trying to talk himself out of it. That's what I saw." McGregor warmed up and then pulled on his boxing gloves, working up a sweat on a selection of punch bags for 12 three-minute rounds. After a f lurry of punches on the final bag, McGregor still had one more parting shot for boxing fans who he says are bored with how their sport. "I just want to say to all of box- ing -- it's OK to love me as much as I love me. It's OK. Let it go," a beaming McGregor said. PARIS St Germain forward Ney- mar has agreed to pay a fine to Brazil's tax authorities in a bid to put his legal problems behind him, his lawyers said on Friday. The lawyers said they expect to pay an 8 million real ($2.52 mil- lion) fine to end the long-running dispute. Brazil's tax office, however, said they had not yet arrived at a final total. The office originally sought 188.8 million reais ($59.44 mil- lion) in fines, back taxes and in- terest, although that figure is thought to have fallen consider- ably. "Although he doesn't agree with the value (of 8 million) the pro- cess has dragged on for more than three years and the intention is to end it and move on to this new phase for Neymar," said Marcos Neder, one of the player's lawyers. The decision to cough up and move on comes just a week after Neymar left Barcelona to join PSG for a world record fee of 222 million Euros ($261 million). The 25-year old has been beset with accusations he bilked tax au- thorities in both Spain and Brazil. "The accusations (against us) were at times hasty, at other times they went against us, but it left a mark on his image and as you know Neymar lives off his image," said lawyer Gustavo Xisto. "We need to be cautious about it. I think that is the lesson we have learnt."