Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 17 February 2017
Klitschko relishing chance to re-start career against Joshua

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) ally think boxing is a young
— After what will be 17 man’s sport for sure,” Josh-
months out of the ring, for- ua said.
mer heavyweight cham- In contrast to Klitschko’s
pion Wladimir Klitschko previous bouts against Brit-
believes the chances of ons, there is none of the
resurrecting his remarkable bad blood that was clearly
career are “50-50” against evident against Fury or
the unbeaten Anthony David Haye, or against
Joshua. Dereck Chisora, who failed
The 40-year-old Klitschko, in his bid to take the WBC
who ruled the heavyweight belt from older Klitschko
division for nearly a de- brother Vitali in 2012.
cade, lost his WBA, IBF and The still-active Klitschko
WBO belts in a surprise de- said that facing Joshua
feat to Tyson Fury in Dues- was a breath of fresh air
seldorf in November 2015. without the insults that
He hasn’t fought since dominated the lead-ups to
then after two attempts at the previous fights. There is
a rematch failed because mutual respect between
of the British fighter’s per- the fighters.
sonal problems. “It’s an enrichment for me.
Joshua, 13 years his junior, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, right, and Britain’s Anthony Joshua face each other during a It’s a whole other level
will try to prevent the Ukrai- press conference in Cologne, western Germany, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017. Klitschko and Joshua will and good for the sport of
nian’s comeback at Lon- fight for the IBF title in London on April 29. boxing,” Klitschko said.
don’s Wembley Stadium Associated Press “Pythagoras, Plato, Jack
on April 29, likely forcing WBA ‘super’ title vacated the fight against Klitschko copy of me, maybe a little London, and Nelson Man-
the former champ into re- by Fury. was finalized. different when you look dela showed that boxing is
tirement if he wins. Joshua has won all 18 of Klitschko, also an Olympic at the experience,” said characterized by respect
“I’ve never boxed in front his fights by KO since turn- winner at the 1996 Games Klitschko, whose record is and intelligence and not
of 90,000 people before,” ing professional after win- in Atlanta, said he was im- 64-4 with 53 KOs. just foul language.”
Joshua said on Thursday at ning the gold medal at the pressed that Joshua waited The British boxer acknowl- Perhaps to avoid giving the
a press event in Cologne. London Olympics in 2012. before turning professional, edged he can’t compete impression that the fighters
“I’m gonna ride that wave His most recent win was a and he praised his oppo- on experience. were getting too friendly,
for sure.” third-round stoppage of nent’s modest approach. “For experience, you Klitschko promised it will be
Joshua’s IBF belt will be Eric Molina in Manchester “His arm reach and punch gain that with age. But different on the day of the
on the line, as well as the in December, a day before are similar. He’s almost a for the sport we’re in, I re- fight.q

NBA Capsules NEW YORK (AP) — Giannis

Continued on Page 22 Antetokounmpo scored
33 points in his final game
It was the 40th straight the seventh player with before making his All-Star
20-point game for Thomas, 2,000 career 3s — as the debut, Greg Monroe add-
tying the team record set NBA champions improved ed 25 and Milwaukee sent
by John Havlicek during to 7-1 in February following Brooklyn Nets to the break
the 1971-72 season. Marcus a drama-and-distraction on a 14-game skid.
Smart added 21 points and filled January. Khris Middleton finished
eight steals for the Celtics. Glenn Robinson III scored with 20 points in his stron-
Boston has won four in a 17 points for Indiana. gest game since return-
row and 11 of 12. Phila- The Pacers have lost five ing from a ruptured left
delphia had won three straight. hamstring that forced him
straight. WARRIORS 109, KINGS 86 to miss the first 50 games.
Dario Saric led the 76ers OAKLAND, California (AP) Monroe was 12 for 16 from
with 20 points and 11 re- — Klay Thompson scored the field after going 12 for
bounds. Robert Covington 10 of his 35 points during a 15 on Monday in a victory
added 18 points. big third-quarter run and over Detroit.
CAVALIERS 113, PACERS the Golden State War- Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, right, drives the ball Brook Lopez scored a sea-
104 riors beat the Sacramento against Sacramento Kings’ Darren Collison during the first half son-high 36 points for the
CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron Kings. of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, in Oak- Nets.
James scored 31 points, Stephen Curry added 13 land, Calif. Associated Press TIMBERWOLVES 112, NUG-
Kyrie Irving added 26, Kyle points and nine assists, and GETS 99
Korver made six 3-pointers Kevin Durant had 21 points, added 15 points and Dar- seven assists, and Goran DENVER (AP) — Andrew
and Cleveland beat Indi- seven rebounds and sev- ren Collison scored 14. Dragic had 21 points for Wiggins scored 40 points
ana to roll into the All-Star en assists as the Warriors HEAT 117, ROCKETS 109 the Heat. They had lost two and Karl-Anthony Towns
break with its seventh win in bounced back from a loss HOUSTON (AP) — Hassan straight after winning 12 in added 24 points and 18 re-
eight games. in Denver two nights ear- Whiteside had 23 points, 14 a row. bounds in Minnesota’s vic-
Irving and Korver com- lier to head into the All-Star rebounds and five blocks James Harden had 38 tory over Denver.
bined to make four 3s in break an NBA-best 47-9. to help Miami beat Hous- points 12 rebounds and 12 Wiggins’ second 40-plus
the first 2:50 of the fourth DeMarcus Cousins had ton. assists for Houston his 15th game in 24 hours helped
quarter — Korver finished 13 points and six assists for Dion Waiters added 23 triple-double of the season. the Timberwolves split the
with 22 points and became Sacramento. Matt Barnes points, nine rebounds and BUCKS 129, NETS 125 season series.q