Best of the best impressed: 'Brady is the gold standard'
In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks during Super Bowl 55 Opening Night, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. (NFL via AP)Ahead of his 10th Super Bowl appearance, The Associated Press asked the best of the best โ eight current and former champions from seven sports โ what impressed them most about Tom Brady. Tom Brady does that every day. โฆ That takes superhuman dedication and discipline โฆ Tom Brady is always in the back of my mind during training camp and between fights. ... That takes a lot of dedication and hard work, and ultimately weโre seeing the results at his age โฆโHeโll have a bad game, which we all do as athletes, and when youโre young, people say: โWell, he had a bad night, bad game, bad week.
Crawford returns to ring in title defense against Brook
What Crawford is still waiting on is the one signature fight that will put an end to all those arguments. Crawford wonโt get that Saturday night when he defends his piece of the welterweight title against Englandโs Kell Brooks. โIโm optimistic that if Terence wins, we can put the fight on and if Terrence doesnโt win and Kell Brook wins, maybe Iโll make Kell Brook with Manny,โโ Arum said. Crawford is a huge favorite in Las Vegas sports books to beat Brook, who is coming down from his recent weight of 154 pounds to challenge Crawford. ``I think Terence knows Iโm not an easy fight,โโ Brook said.
Alibaba founder Jack Ma challenges Floyd Mayweather to fight
In a video posted to Twitter Sunday, Philippines boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Alibaba founder Jack Ma challenged Floyd Mayweather to a fight. "Floyd Mayweather, if you want a real fight, fight me. He then calls them "The Real Manny Team," an apparent play on a lifestyle brand founded by Mayweather, The Money Team. Ma retired from the Chinese e-commerce giant last month, saying he wanted to pursue his other passions, like education. Yet while Ma is clearly in shape, a Mayweather fight is a different matter entirely.
Pacquiao beats Thurman for welterweight crown
Pacquiao seemed to have the clear advantage Saturday but one ringside judge, Glenn Feldman, gave the 30-year-old American a 114-113 advantage. Thurman lost for the first time (29-1) while Pacquiao collected a 62nd victory (62-7-2) and said it wouldn't be his last fight, either. Pacquiao, though, responded in the 10th round with blows to the body and Thurman couldn't produce the big finish he realistically needed in the 12th. "It was fun," Pacquiao, a titlist in a remarkable eight different weight classes in his career, told the crowd. Thurman, slowed by hand and elbow injuries in recent years, said Pacquiao just had too much for him.