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Ellie Scotney is relishing the prospect of building from the ground up and showing her best at featherweight, after having won everything there was to win at 122 pounds.The 28-year-old became Britain's youngest undisputed champion in the four-belt era when she beat Mayelli Flores by unanimous decision in April, after which she quickly vacated her belts and announced she would be moving up a division.’It was a weird one because before I even went into that fight I knew that as soon as that was done, I would be moving up,’ Scotney told Reuters by video call.’Holding on to 122 pounds was hard but it was for the sole purpose of being undisputed. The fact that I had to go champion to champion to champion to champion, it was like 'once I've done that, what else was there to chase?'’I've always been a person that prides themselves on integrity and challenges themselves… I just knew as soon as I stepped out of that ring that it's time to start all over again. That feeling excites me just as much as becoming undisputed.’Scotney said making the weight at 122 pounds had become an increasingly gruelling ordeal, even getting to a point where she required an emergency haircut.’It should always be hard to make the weight but this time was probably the hardest,’ she added.’It came to the last bit where I had to cut my hair. I used to have long hair which got cut, and I'd end up a skinhead if I stayed there I reckon.’Now I'm stepping up to featherweight, I believe that will be where you will see the best of me, for sure.’ SERRANO IN HER SIGHTS Scotney's first assignment at featherweight is set to come against American Tiara Brown, who defended her WBC title against Hannah Rapp last month.Pressed on who she might target down the line, Scotney had no hesitation in naming WBA and WBO champion Amanda Serrano – her Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) stable-mate and a central figure in the trilogy of bouts that helped to propel women's boxing into the mainstream.’All my focus is on Tiara but of course Amanda Serrano is the name of the division,’ Scotney said.’That's someone I would love to share the ring with because of who she is. Not just in the ring of course, she's accomplished so much, but she's changed the sport of women's boxing.’To share the ring with someone like that, it's about creating legacy, and those are the fights that do that.’ WORKING WITH MVPScotney, who signed with Jake Paul's MVP in April last year, said the move had restored her self-belief following a testing few years.’I was told women's boxing is not what it is, and that made me look at getting a job,’ she said.’I went from being in that place, to meeting MVP, chatting with (co-founder) Nakisa Bidarian, Jake and realising that no, this is my journey.’Paul, the social media star turned prize-fighter and promoter, even pledged to buy Scotney a car should she see off Flores – a promise he honoured.’I said about getting two trains, a tube and a bus to training and that's just one way,’ she said.’I do that twice a day, and he's like 'why can't you drive'? He said if you win, I'll buy you a car, so the whole fight week no one was talking about winning undisputed, they were talking about winning the car.’I've got the car but the licence is still to come.’ Source link
Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun condemned yesterday the ongoing violations and attacks carried out by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, particularly the bombings targeting infrastructure and archaeological sites listed as World Heritage sites. He emphasised that these attacks have caused significant damage and serious repercussions affecting most villages in the south.In a statement issued by the Lebanese Presidency, Aoun said, “The massive explosions that rocked Beaufort Castle today, generating seismic waves equivalent to a 3.8-magnitude earthquake according to the National Center for Geophysics, represent a highly dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of existing commitments. They also pose a direct threat to the progress made under the framework agreement, to which Lebanon has committed.” He added that the timing of the attacks, on the eve of the scheduled meeting in Rome to continue discussions on implementing the tripartite framework, sends negative messages and undermines international efforts to stabilise the situation. He called on the sponsoring parties and the international community to assume their responsibilities and take action to end these violations, which threaten the chances of progress in the diplomatic process and undermine security and stability in southern Lebanon. It is worth noting that Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement under US auspices that stipulates security arrangements and the redeployment of the Lebanese army in the south, as well as measures to rebuild the affected areas, revive the Lebanese economy, establish direct communication channels between the two sides, and take confidence-building measures as a prelude to lasting peace. Source link
Jockey Arnaud de Lepine rode Samha Alseej to the Al Bidda Cup Thursday. PICTURE: Juhaim Samha Alseej claimed the Al Bidda Cup, a Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate over 1400m (Class 4) at the Al Rayyan Racecourse Thursday.The bay filly, owned and trained by Jassim bin Hamad al-Atteya, the bay filly came from off the pace with a blistering turn of foot inside the final 100m to land the spoils and score by 1½ lengths. She was guided to victory by jockey Arnaud de Lepine, who completed a double on the card.Samha Alseej was settled at the rear in the early stages as Afran set the pace ahead of Halitan, with Awayed Alseej and Ayyal Bjd following in behind. The order remained unchanged through the middle part of the race. At the top of the straight, the leading trio still held sway and looked set to decide the outcome.However, Samha Alseej produced a decisive late surge, quickening sharply inside the final 100m to sweep past her rivals and take control, turning the race on its head in a matter of strides before stretching clear to a convincing success. The long-time leader Afran, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm and from the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki yard, with Marco Casamento aboard, kept on to take second, two lengths clear of the nearest rival behind her.The Umm Al Shukhut Farm-owned Halitan, trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed and ridden by Alberto Sanna, held third without threatening the first two home.Earlier, De Lepine was in the winners’ enclouser when he guided Meshaal bin Ali al-Attiyah-owned Minsk to victory in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-45) for three-year-old+ over 1200m. RESULTS68th Al Rayyan Race meeting – Al Bidda CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 – Al Bidda Cup, Local Thoroughbred Graduation PlateSamha Alseej, Jassim bin Hamad al-Atteya, Arnaud de Lepine2 – Thoroughbred Maiden PlateMaraaheb, Hadi al-Ramzani, Alberto Sanna3 – Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden PlateSafwan Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier4 – Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-45)Minsk, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Arnaud de Lepine5 – Thoroughbred Handicap (0-75)Morello Man, Hamad al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi6 – Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80)Make Love, Mohammed al-Ghazali, Salem Alajmi7 – Thoroughbred Handicap (75-95)Studio City, Mohammed al-Ghazali, Pierre Charles Boudot8 – Purebred Arabian Handicap (70-90)Monaafasah, Ahmed al-Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot9: Purebred Arabian Handicap (80-100)Mohimma, Jean de Mieulle, Alberto Sanna Source link
Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City after winning 15 major trophies during his nine years stay. Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club announced Thursday as they hailed his “incalculable” contribution to our “greatest sustained period of success”. The 31-year-old Portuguese playmaker, who is the current club captain, joined City from Monaco for £43mn ($58mn) in 2017 and has gone on to make over 450 appearances for manager Pep Guardiola’s side, winning 15 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and one Champions League as well as this season’s League Cup. He has also scored 76 goals and provided 77 assists to date, with Silva also involved as City won the ‘treble’ of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the 2022/23 season. Silva recently moved into the top 10 of all-time City appearance holders, overtaking several notable former players, including David Silva, Paul Power and Willie Donachie. “Manchester City can confirm Bernardo Silva will leave the club this summer,” said a City statement. “Bernardo will now focus on seeking to try and ensure his remaining time at City ends with even more silverware, with Pep Guardiola’s side still very much in the hunt to win both the Premier League title and the FA Cup. “In short, he will be deservedly remembered both as one of City’s finest and most popular players of all time.” Confirming his departure from the Etihad on his Instagram page, Silva wrote: “When I arrived nine years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things. “This city and this club gave me much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. “The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the Four In A Row and much more… It wasn’t that bad. “In a few months, it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you!” Silva, who thanked fans for their “unconditional support” and said he would leave the Etihad as a “Man City supporter for life”, added: “To the club, Pep, the staff and all my team-mates these nine years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long. “The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.” Related…
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, Thursday. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning at 5pm EST (2100 GMT), raising hopes of a pause in the parallel conflict to the wider US-Iran war — even as fierce fighting continued on the ground in southern Lebanon. The US State Department confirmed the truce was to take effect Thursday, adding that the ceasefire period could be extended by mutual agreement if negotiations toward a permanent security and peace arrangement were still under way. Trump said he had held “excellent” conversations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the announcement, and indicated the two leaders would likely visit the White House within days. “As of two hours from now, we have a ceasefire with Israel and Lebanon. And that’ll be great. And they’ll be meeting — probably coming to the White House — over the next four or five days,” he told reporters. The US president said he had directed Vice-President J D Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine to work with both countries toward lasting peace. “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” he wrote on Truth Social. Related Story Source link
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