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SPORTS Wednesday 19 december 2018

Mayweather opponent looks

for real fight not entertainment

By YURI KAGEYAMA ily's Teppen Gym in the To- room.
Associated Press kyo suburb of Matsudo. Despite everything, VIP
MATSUDO, Japan (AP) — Except, he really can't seats are going for 100,000
To Floyd Mayweather, his change the world. There yen ($1,000) each at Saita-
three-round match on will be no judges and no ma Super Arena, on the
New Year's Eve in Japan is official result. northern outskirts of Tokyo.
for entertainment only. When 20-year-old Na- There's little Nasukawa
To opponent Tenshin Na- sukawa's people were has in common with May-
sukawa, the "exhibition" is last month touting a real weather, apart from both
as serious as a kick to the bout, the 41-year-old May- being unbeaten. Nasu-
head. weather walked away. He kawa is undefeated as a Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa warms up at his gym in
Which is what he wishes he hasn't fought since beat- kickboxer at 27-0 and un- Matsudo, northwest of Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Nasukawa
is scheduled to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a three-round
could do to Mayweather. ing Conor McGregor more defeated in mixed martial exhibition boxing bout in Japan on New Year's Eve.
But the rules of their match than a year ago for his arts at 4-0. Associated Press
prohibit the unheralded 50th win from 50 fights. He He said he never was much
kickboxer from kicking. So returned to this matchup of a Mayweather fan, usu- him," he said. "He is the best so I can't let
he's taken a crash course only after getting the rules ally cheering for his oppo- "He says such provocative my guard down. I'm sure
in boxing. Among his advis- clarified to make his first nents, such as Manny Pac- stuff I feel like kicking him." his punches are fast but I'm
ers was three-weight world bout in Japan more about quiao. And when he met Nasukawa said he can't al- sure I can see them.
champion Jorge Linares. "entertainment." him in person, Nasukawa low the taller and heavier "I feel excited, although
"I can change the world The Rizin Fighting Federa- said he was a little disap- Mayweather to land a some days I still feel
with my fist," Nasukawa tion organizers are even pointed that Mayweather single punch in their three afraid," Nasukawa add-
said in his quiet voice on willing to placate May- wasn't as charismatic as rounds. He plans to use his ed. "But when the day
Tuesday after a demon- weather by undertaking he thought he was. kickboxing nous to avoid comes, I want to fight with
stration workout at his fam- the weigh-in in his hotel "I sensed no aura about getting hit. confidence."q

Salt Lake City bids for 2nd Olympics in changed climate

By BRADY McCOMBS Games — decades sooner
Associated Press than anyone expected
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — and despite that bid scan-
When Salt Lake City pur- dal.
sued the Winter Olympics Utah's capital city is among
more than two decades an increasingly small group
ago, competition was so of cities worldwide that
fierce that lavishing Inter- has the venues needed
national Olympic Commit- for winter sports and the
tee members with gifts and willingness to take on the
favors seemed common- costly task of hosting Olym-
place. Salt Lake City got pics that have lost some of
caught in a bribery scan- their cache. The U.S. Olym-
dal that nearly derailed the pic Committee last week
plans for the 2002 Winter chose Salt Lake City over
Olympics. Denver as a future bid city.
Two decades later, the The IOC will choose a 2030
script has flipped. host by 2023 at the latest.
The IOC is struggling to find Jules Boykoff, a Pacific Uni- Salt Lake City Council Chairwoman Erin Mendenhall, Fraser Bullock, chief operating officer of the
cities willing to take on the versity professor who has 2002 Winter Games, Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission, Salt Lake
financial and societal bur- written widely on the Olym- City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Gov. Gary Herbert, USA Olympic speed skater Catherine Rainey-
Norman and Salt Lake County Councilman Jim Bradley raise their arms in celebration after the
den of hosting the Winter pics, said the bribery scan- USOC choose Salt Lake over Denver to bid on behalf of the U.S. for future Winter Games, Friday,
Olympics. The race to host dal is "a pretty big stain on Dec. 14, 2018 in Salt Lake City.
the 2026 Winter Olympics is the history of the games." Associated Press
down to just two cities after "But these days, the Inter-
several dropped out over national Olympic Commit- knee replacements, violins judge halfway through a scandal, but he doesn't
a lack of local support. tee is not in a position to be and housing and salary for federal trial. think it will impact their can-
Beijing got the 2022 Winter overly picky," Boykoff said. children of IOC members, The IOC brought in outside didacy. The Salt Lake City
Olympics by attrition, win- The scandal broke in 1998, according to report by an experts to help reshape the bribery scandal capped
ning by four votes over Al- three years after Salt Lake ethics panel. organization. The IOC ap- off decades of cities try-
maty, Kazakhstan, after a City was chosen over cit- It led to the expulsion of proved a 50-point reform ing to win the favor of IOC
half-dozen European bid- ies in Canada, Sweden six IOC members, the res- package that included a board members behind
ders dropped out, discour- and Switzerland. Salt Lake's ignation of four others se- ban on member visits to bid the scenes.
aged by soaring costs and bid committee doled out vere warnings for several cities, creation of an inde- "They learned from the
taxpayer backlash. $1 million in cash, scholar- others though none faced pendent ethics committee corruption of other cities
That's why a city that, for ships, medical care, gifts criminal charges. U.S. pros- and term limits. that beat them before,"
a time, stood out as a pa- and other favors to IOC ecutors brought criminal Olympic historian David Wallechinsky said. "It's not
riah in the Olympic world is members and their fami- charges against two Salt Wallechinsky said Salt Lake like they invented the cor-
a serious contender again, lies. That included ski trips, Lake bid leaders, but both City's current bid officials ruption . . . they just got
this time for the 2030 Winter NBA tickets, plastic surgery, men were acquitted by a will have to talk about the caught."q