Sports

RIYADH — Two-time world champion Anthony Joshua knocked out mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou in just the second round of their widely-hyped heavyweight clash on Saturday, with his promoter quickly declaring him the division’s “number one” fighter.

Joshua had his Cameroonian opponent on the canvas in the first round and twice more in the second in a brutal and brief exhibition of punching power.

Ngannou, 37, a former UFC heavyweight champion, was taking part in only his second professional boxing match, having lost a split decision to Tyson Fury in an October fight that saw him put the WBC champion on the canvas in the third round.

“I thought this fight was something for the broadcasters to get behind,” Joshua told DAZN after his quickfire victory.

“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury, I thought, ‘I want some of that’. He is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities.

“I told [Ngannou] not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”

Joshua, a former unified WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion, went into the fight on the back of three successive wins.

Before that, however, he lost back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk, who will take on Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi Arabia in May.

The fight only got under way at 3:30 am local time (00:30 GMT), but weary fans enjoyed a sensational start when Joshua quickly sent Ngannou to the canvas in the opening round with a brutal right to the chin.

It got worse for the Cameroonian when he was knocked down again in the second round, just managing to beat the count.

His resistance lasted only a few more moments after he was sent to the canvas again for the third and final time.

‘Sitting duck’

Ngannou lay on his back for some time and needed medical treatment inside the ring before being helped back to his stool.

Joshua, 34, was reportedly being paid $50 million for his clash with the MMA star, whose rags-to-riches story had captivated the sport.

Ngannou grew up in abject poverty, working as a child labourer in a sand quarry for under $2 a day.

He then made his way to Europe, even sleeping rough in a car park in Paris before a local coach took him under his wing and steered him to boxing.

Joshua’s victory immediately sparked feverish talk of a mega-fight with either Usyk or Fury.

“You’re looking at the number one heavyweight in the world,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.

“On this form, there is no man that can beat him. Tyson Fury, please beat Usyk, because you will get the biggest fight in the history of the sport.

“He destroyed Francis Ngannou. He’s a beast and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”

Joshua’s trainer Ben Davison told the BBC that “the only way to find out who is the best is to get the winner of Fury and Usyk. That’s the only thing that makes sense”.

However, not every ringside observer was impressed with the brief flurry of brutality.

“That highlighted what happens when a world class heavyweight has a free shot on a sitting duck,” Boxing News editor Matt Christie wrote on social media platform X.

“Hopefully no need to see that kind of fight again.”

He may get his wish, as Ngannou is scheduled to return to MMA later in the year.

AMMAN — Hussein play Ramtha on Friday in a vital match as they aim to take their lead further in the Professional Football League’s week 14.

The leaders are now 7 points ahead after a 1-0 win over Salt last week, and are trailed by Faisali who beat Ramtha 3-0  and should have an easier task against Ma’an.

Wihdat’s chances of playing for the title seem to be dwindling after they stumbled in a goalless draw with 10th placed Jalil ahead of their match against Mugheer Al Sarhan who beat Ma’an 1-0 to climb to 7th.

Ramtha maintained fourth place despite their defeat to Faisali while Aqaba beat Ahli  2-1 to maintain fifth spot ahead of their match against Jalil.

Shabab Urdun beat Sahab 1-0 to climb one spot before facing Salt.

The competition resumed in the past two weeks after a long halt due to the  national team’s participation at the 2023 Asian Cup before it stops again for the resumption of World Cup qualifiers and U23 team’s participation in the West Asian Championship and 6th AFC U23 Asian Cup.

Standings(previous rank in brackets)

AMMAN — HRH Prince Feisal, chairman of Jordan Motorsport, on Wednesday attended the annual awards distribution event for the 2023 motorsport season, which was organised by Jordan Motorsport.

Prince Feisal handed over awards for winners in a ceremony that was held at the Royal Automobile Museum, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The prince also handed over cups for winners in motorsports during the 2023 season.

MUNICH, Germany — Harry Kane scored a goal in each half as Bayern Munich beat Lazio 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

Kane headed Bayern level in the tie in the 38th minute, cancelling out Lazio’s lead from the first leg with his first Champions League knockout goal in five years.

Thomas Mueller doubled the hosts’ lead with a clever header before half-time and Kane doubled up in the 66th minute, tapping in the rebound from a Leroy Sane shot to seal Bayern’s progress to the next round.

“It was a perfect night for us,” Kane told Amazon Prime.

“Everyone with energy, all around the pitch, the way we played and created chances and pressed without the ball — it was a top, top performance.”

Bayern kept their slim hopes of silverware this season alive while likely giving outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel a stay of execution until the quarter-finals in April.

“It’s the most difficult trophy to win in Europe, probably the world,” Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, told reporters.

“But it doesn’t get any easier or more difficult if you have a long contract or if you’re leaving at the end of the season.”

Kane recognised the manner of Tuchel’s exit was “unusual” but said “nights like this can change the season. I’m proud of the boys — we just have to keep this momentum up”.

Mueller, a two-time Champions League winner, said: “We’re going to make sure everyone enjoys this feeling, nevermind what is in the newspaper yesterday or tomorrow.”

“We’re very happy because we know the importance of progressing further today.”

The loss snuffed out Lazio’s chance of a first Champions League quarter-final appearance since 1999-2000.

Six-time European champions Bayern came into Tuesday’s match staring down the barrel of a last-16 elimination for just the second time in the past 13 seasons.

Three straight losses including the 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Rome amounted to Bayern’s worst run since 2015, costing Tuchel his job less than a year after arriving in Munich.

With Tuchel allowed to keep the seat warm until the summer, the coach promised to be more “ruthless”.

On Tuesday, he benched big-money signing Kim Min-jae for Eric Dier, while moving Joshua Kimmich — a fixture in midfield for Bayern and Germany -- to right-back.

Bayern pushed Lazio back early with the fit-again Sane and Jamal Musiala going close.

Immobile regret 

Scorer of the first leg’s only goal, Ciro Immobile had a golden chance to extend Lazio’s lead after a Matthijs de Ligt mistake on 36 minutes but dragged his header just wide.

The miss would prove costly with Kane breaking through moments later, heading in a scuffed Raphael Guerreiro shot to even up the tie.

Mueller, another to see more game time after the announcement of Tuchel’s impending departure, doubled Bayern’s lead in first-half stoppage time, heading in a De Ligt shot in trademark poacher fashion.

Despite a prolific run in front of goal since arriving from Spurs, the German media joked the famously trophyless Kane had cursed Bayern, in danger of a first season without silverware since 2012.

The England captain made sure Bayern stayed in Europe though, turning in from close range after Sane forced a save from Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel, his 33rd goal in as many appearances this season.

With Lazio striker Immobile taken off with a knee injury, the visitors looked toothless in attack as Bayern gently controlled proceedings to take the sting out of the game.

Bayern kept their first clean sheet in eight games with captain Manuel Neuer equalling the Champions League record of 57 set by Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas.

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday it is “getting tougher” to win the Champions League as he targets a second consecutive treble with his all-conquering Manchester City team.

Defending champions City, unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions, take on Copenhagen in the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Etihad on Wednesday, with the cushion of a 3-1 lead.

They beat Manchester United on Sunday to move just one point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Newcastle.

But Guardiola played down talk of a repeat of last season’s heroics at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“It’s better to be here having already won the Champions League but as I said it [the treble season] is finished,” he said.

“The only target is to try to qualify tomorrow for the quarter-finals,” he added. “We are far, far away, talking about these things.

“We didn’t say last season until we won the final against United in the FA Cup, so we are at the beginning of March.”

Guardiola, who also won the Champions League twice as Barcelona manager, in 2009 and 2011, said the bar had been raised in Europe’s top club competition.

“It’s getting better and tougher,” he said. I had the feeling when I arrived at Barcelona in the first years “OK we will arrive in the semi-finals”.

“Now, to reach semifinals is so difficult. The teams are better and managers are better. Everything is even more difficult than when I was a football player. But at the end the better teams always go through.”

But he played down the notion that winning with City last season — the club’s first-ever Champions League crown — was a bigger achievement than lifting the trophy with Barcelona.

“No, I would not say that, otherwise I undermine what we achieved in Barcelona,” he said. “I would not like that, which was really good.

“I am not saying that ‘That prize is better than the previous ones’. It’s not. Every moment is every moment.

“What I think when I was at Barcelona or Bayern Munich, here, every title you win is different. It’s not for granted.

“It’s not because it’s easy. Every step you do is so complicated... you have to be good in the right moments, mentally, physically and the skills and the game plan and many, many things, luck in the right moments.”

Madrid not past

Leipzig yet

Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti warned his players on Tuesday their Champions League last 16 tie against RB Leipzig is not over after taking a slim first leg advantage.

The record 14-time winners scraped a 1-0 lead in Germany ahead of Wednesday’s second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“It’s a big opportunity to continue in a very special competition — we have to be at our best, because the tie is not over yet,” said the Italian.

“We have a small advantage, but we have to be at our top level from the first minute.”

Ancelotti also continued to defend England international Jude Bellingham, who was sent off in La Liga against Valencia on Sunday for remonstrating with the referee.

“He’s a player who tries to give everything on the pitch, he’s doing very well,” said Ancelotti.

“The red card was a mistake — he was a bit frustrated, but he did not say any kind of insult.”

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga said he did not understand Bellingham’s dismissal.

“He didn’t insult anyone, it’s very strange, I’ve never seen that in football, it’s very, very odd,” said the Frenchman.

Spanish media report Madrid will appeal top scorer Bellingham’s red card.

The former Borussia Dortmund man is set to start against Leipzig, aiming to add to his tally of four goals in five Champions League matches this season.

Bellingham missed the narrow away win with an ankle problem and his replacement Brahim Diaz netted the only goal.

WASHINGTON — NBA overall leader Boston delivered a devastating and historic performance in routing the Golden State Warriors 140-88 on Sunday, stretching the Celtics’ win streak to 11 games.

It was the third-largest blowout victory in Celtics history, a legacy dating to 1946.

Boston’s Jaylen Brown scored 25 of his 29 points in a record-shattering first half while Jayson Tatum celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring 22 of his 27 points during the first two quarters of domination.

“It’s up there. Great birthday. Got to do what I love in front of the best fans in the world and get a win,” Tatum said.

The Celtics became the first club in NBA history to win three games in the same season by 50 or more points. The Celtics routed Indiana 155-104 in November and last month blasted Brooklyn 136-86, taking both in Boston.

Despite Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined by a left quad bruise, the host Celtics seized an 82-38 lead after the second quarter, their largest half-time edge in team history and the Warriors’ largest-ever half-time deficit.

“It was a lot of fun,” Boston’s Derrick White said. “It was a good start. You never expect something like that to happen.”

The Celtics made 10 3-pointers in the first quarter, their most in any quarter this season, and closed the period on a 23-1 run over six minutes to seize command at 44-22.

The Warriors shot 34.9 per cent (15-of-43) in the first half, 3-of-18 from 3-point range, and made eight turnovers while the Celtics shot 60 per cent (30-of-50) in the first half, 15-of-24 from beyond the arc, and made only one turnover.

Top players saw little of the court in the second half. Boston stretched the lead to 115-62 after three quarters and reserves cruised to the finish as the Celtics improved to 29-3 at home this season.

Eastern Conference leader Boston improved the league’s best record to 48-12 while Golden State slid to 32-28, ninth in the Western Conference.

“We have a lot of experience. We’ve grown, we’ve matured,” Brown said. “We’re primed and we’re ready.

“There’s a lot of respect for the Golden State Warriors, but we feel like it’s our time now.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves (42-19) fell from the West lead after losing at home 89-88 to the Los Angeles Clippers while Oklahoma City (42-18) secured the top spot by winning at Phoenix 118-110.

Kawhi Leonard’s two free throws with 13 seconds remaining gave the Clippers an 89-86 lead. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards drove to the basket for a dunk with three seconds remaining but the T-Wolves never got the ball back.

Leonard led the Clippers with 32 points while Edwards led Minnesota with 27.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points to lead Oklahoma City while Bradley Beal paced the Suns with 31 points and Jusuf Nurkic grabbed a club-record 31 rebounds for Phoenix.

Doncic shines in defeat 

At Dallas, Mavericks star Luka Doncic posted a triple double in a losing cause as the Philadelphia 76ers took a 120-116 triumph.

Tobias Harris scored 28 points, Tyrese Maxey added 24 and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 21 off the bench for the Sixers (35-25), who remain without injured reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid.

Slovenian Doncic finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while Kyrie Irving added 28 points for Dallas, which fell to 34-27, eighth in the West.

At Cleveland, Donte DiVincenzo scored 28 points and Josh Hart had a triple double with 13 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists to spark New York’s 107-98 victory over the host Cavaliers.

New York’s Jalen Brunson was hurt in the game’s opening seconds, holding his left knee before limping off the court — adding to injury issues that have benched three top forwards.

The Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell due to a sore left knee.

French rookie Victor Wembanyama scored 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and added six assists and six blocked shots to spark the San Antonio Spurs over visiting Indiana 117-105.

R.J. Barrett scored 23 points while Immanuel Quickley added 22 points and 11 assists to lead Toronto over visiting Charlotte 111-106.

Paolo Banchero scored 29 points to lead Orlando in a 113-91 home triumph over Detroit.

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James became the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on Saturday, the 39-year-old superstar scoring nine against defending champion Denver to achieve the milestone.

But James called the historic effort “bittersweet” because it came in a losing cause as Nikola Jokic scored 35 points to rally the Nuggets late for a 124-114 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Being the first player to do something, it’s pretty cool in this league ‘cause you just know the history, you know the grace that has come through the league,” James said.

“But the main thing is always the main thing and that’s the win. And I hated that had to happen in a defeat especially versus a team that plays extremely well.

“We played some good basketball but wasn’t able to close it out, so bittersweet, but I enjoyed every moment though, while on the floor.”

James scored a team-high 26 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets stretched their win streak to six games.

“I’m glad we’re playing good,” Jokic said. “We’re doing the things we want to do. We don’t have too many breakdowns. I just like how we’re playing the game right now.”

James, who just over a year ago overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring mark, is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player as well as the league’s oldest active player, now in his 21st campaign.

“Just happy for him. It was a hell of an accomplishment,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Wish we could have got the win to cap it off. But my hat’s off to him. Amazing, amazing run that continues to this day.”

James scored his first basket on a fast break layup 6:20 into the opening quarter to give the Lakers an 18-12 edge, then added a 3-pointer from the left corner 63 seconds later for a 23-14 advantage.

He sank a layup 14 seconds into the second quarter to pull within two of the milestone, then missed a free throw and on the next Laker possession missed a 3-point shot.

James scored the historic basket with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, banking in a driving layup from the left side of the basket to give the Lakers a 37-32 lead.

The crowd gave James a standing ovation during a timeout and the ball James used for the milestone hoop was removed from the game.

“Much respect and much loyalty to the Laker fan base for showing me that love during the timeout,” James said.

Asked if he thought another NBA player could crack 40,000, James replied, “I have no idea.”

“You have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck as far as injuries and things of that nature. You have to take care of your body. You have to be present on the floor and then you have to be productive as well.”

The Nuggets equalised at 89-89 entering the fourth quarter and seized command with a 9-0 run in the final minutes to lead 117-110, Denver hitting 15-of-22 from the floor in the final quarter.

“I just want to be better,” James said. “It’s always over the last few minutes of the game where they make plays, we don’t make plays that can be frustrating.”

Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. went 10-for-10 from the floor and scored 25 points while matching Jokic’s 10 rebounds.

“He was amazing,” Jokic said. “It’s always a good thing when you have a guy on your team that can shoot like that.”

The Lakers, 33-29, rank 10th in the Western Conference while the Nuggets are 42-19, third in the West but only a half-game behind leading Minnesota.

In other games, Mikal Bridges scored 38 points to lead host Brooklyn over Atlanta 114-102 while Jimmy Butler netted 37 points to power the Miami Heat over visiting Utah 126-120.

Anfernee Simons hit 30 points to lead Portland’s 107-100 overtime triumph at Memphis while Jalen Green’s 34 points led Houston over host Phoenix 118-109.

MILAN — Noah Okafor struck late to fire AC Milan to a 1-0 win at Lazio on Friday in a fiery Serie A match in Rome which finished with the outraged hosts down to eight men.

Switzerland forward Okafor forced home his fifth league goal of the season with two minutes remaining, pushing Milan up to 56 points in third place and further strengthening his team’s position in Italy’s Champions League spots.

Stefano Pioli’s Milan are still 13 points behind league leaders Inter Milan, who host Genoa on Monday, but are just one behind second-placed Juventus.

Juve are at Napoli in Sunday night’s big game and have Milan breathing down their necks after a poor recent run of form.

Okafor’s strike was the most exciting moment of football in a niggly game in which Lazio had two players sent off in stoppage time, with a cascade of boos from dumbfounded home fans greeting the final whistle.

“It’s was a game with a lot of fouls, we didn’t have much rhythm,” said Pioli to DAZN.

Friday’s win also moved Milan 10 points ahead from fifth-placed Atalanta who on Sunday host Bologna, this year’s surprise package in fourth.

It will make relations with Milan’s American ownership slightly easier for Pioli as rumours continue to swirl about him being replaced in the summer after owner Gerry Cardinale said he was “not satisfied” on Thursday.

“It’s a big win looking at the matches being played this weekend... we’re trying to make this season a positive one as we still have big goals to reach,” added Pioli.

Lazio drop down to ninth, level on 40 points with Napoli, after a defeat which was dreadful preparation for Tuesday’s return leg with Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16.

Maurizio Sarri’s side lead Bayern by a single goal after winning the first leg in the Italian capital 1-0 last month and his players will need to pick themselves as they are eight points from the top four.

Lazio’s task against Milan was made harder when Luca Pellegrini was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 57th minute after yanking back Christian Pulisic, sparking a pushing match between both sets of players.

Defender Pellegrini thought that play had been stopped after Valentin Castellanos had been clattered by Ismael Bennacer and was furious at being sent off.

And Adam Marusic was given a straight red card for dissent in the fourth minute of added time before Matteo Guendouzi was also sent off for reacting to being fouled.

Lazio owner Claudio Lotito was so angered by referee Marco Di Bello’s performance that he said the club would take action against the decisions made against his team.