Ryder Cup postponed due to coronavirus
The Lennox `Too Cool’ Allen/David Morrell super middleweight title fight has been pushed back by two weeks but the former is unfazed by the postponement, in fact, Allen says that he welcomes the change.
Allen was initially billed to match gloves with Cuban/American, Morrell on April 11 then July 24 for the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) title but the PBC card, which will be televised live on FOX Sports, has been rescheduled to August 8.
The Brooklyn-based boxer sees the change as a blessing in disguise and relishes the opportunity to have an extended training camp.
Said Allen yesterday “It’s just two weeks so I don’t see it as a setback, I am going to be in even better shape.”
Victory for the Brooklyn-based (Reuters) - This year’s Ryder Cup, which was scheduled to be held in late September in Wisconsin, has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers said yesterday.
The hotly-contested biennial team competition between the United States and Europe, known for its raucous, partisan crowds, was originally scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at Whistling Straits. It will now be held Sept. 24-26, 2021.
The Presidents Cup, which pits a 12man team from the U.S. against international players from outside Europe, was also postponed a year and will played Sept. 22-25, 2022 at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, organisers said.
Organisers said medical experts and public authorities in Wisconsin were not able to provide certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible.
“As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most,” PGA of
Guyanese, nicknamed ‘Too Sharp’, will propel him into the number one contender spot for a world title bout.
The chiseled six-foot, one-inch southpaw admitted it had been a long training camp but he said: “David is a serious fighter and I’ve prepared thoroughly.”
Morrell is undefeated in his two professional bouts, both via the KO route.
‘Too Sharp’ though is in his best shape for the momentous bout in which he puts his undefeated 23-fight career on the line.
Allen who had just wrapped up a training session in the Sweatbox Gym in Brooklyn added: “I expect to win, I know this will be a tough fight, but I feel very confident.”
The Allen/Morrell card will be staged in a ‘studio setting’ in Los Angeles, California without live spectators as part of a series of fight cards within a “bubble” designed to protect fighters from contracting COVID-19.
America Chief Executive Seth Waugh said in a statement.
“The spectators who support both the U.S. and European sides are what make the Ryder Cup such a unique and compelling event and playing without them was not a realistic option.”
The Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup are the latest events on a ravaged golf calendar to be hit by the coronavirus outbreak, which already forced three of the sport’s four majors to be postponed while the British Open was cancelled.
“These two premier international team events are lifted by the spirit of the fans,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“With the uncertainty of the current climate, we fully support the Ryder Cup’s decision to delay a year in order to ensure fans could be a part of the incredible atmosphere in Wisconsin, and the delay of next year’s Presidents Cup was the right decision in order to allow for that option.”
BRIGHTON, England, (Reuters) - Mohamed Salah scored twice as champions Liverpool moved on to 92 points with a 3-1 win at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League yesterday.
The victory kept Liverpool on target to secure a record Premier League points tally, with Juergen Klopp’s side needing nine from their remaining four games to beat the mark set by Manchester City, who amassed 100 points in 2017-18.
Liverpool were 2-0 up within eight minutes after Brighton paid heavily for sloppy work in their attempt to play the ball out from the back.
Naby Keita robbed Davy Propper and slipped the ball to Salah who confidently drove home to open the scoring in the sixth minute.
Two minutes later and Brighton were caught out again by Liverpool’s pressing, this time Salah setting up Jordan Henderson who finished with a perfect drive.
Graham Potter’s 15th-placed team pulled a goal back on the stroke of halftime with Leandro Trossard sweeping home a first-time shot after a pinpoint cross from Tariq Lamptey.
Brighton, who recovered well from their poor start, should have drawn level on the hour when the ball fell to an unattended Dan Burn at the back post but he failed to test Alisson with a poor connection.
Egyptian Salah wrapped up the win, Liverpool’s 30th in their 34th game of the season, with a superbly angled near post header from an in-swinging Andy Robertson corner.
Klopp had given a first league start to 19-year-old Neco Williams at left back but replaced him at the break after he picked up a yellow card.
The only negative for Liverpool was the loss of Henderson to a knee injury 10 minutes from the end.
Salah now has 19 goals, three behind Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy in the race for the “Golden Boot”.