Wladimir Klitschko, the undisputed world heavyweight champion, retained his titles on Saturday with a fifth-round knockout of Australian challenger Alex Leapai.
Ukraine’s Klitschko defended his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts in Oberhausen and was in complete control of his 25th world title fight as he knocked out Leapai after two minutes, five seconds of the fifth round.
“It wasn’t easy, because my head was with my countrymen in Ukraine. What is going on in my home country is the concern of the whole world,” said Klitschko, who landed 147 punches compared to Leapai’s mere 10.
“I hope that the politicians in my home country will find a peaceful solution, I am proud of my people.”
Klitschko picked up the 53rd knockout of his career in his 62nd victory in the 65th fight of his career and had Leapai down three times before the referee stepped in.
“You gave everything, respect,” the champion said to Leapai.
Leapai, 34, had few answers and failed to live up to his pre-fight promises to knock Klitschko out.
“I’m alright, I want to thank Wladimir for the opportunity, he showed why he’s the champion,” said the humbled Samoan-born challenger who suffered the fifth defeat of his career.
Both fighters tipped the scales at 112kgs, but Klitschko had just over double the victories, compared to Leapai’s 24 knockouts in 30 wins, and had a 15cm height advantage.
A heavy right from Klitschko put Leapai on the canvas midway through the first round and the Ukrainian champion was landing his shots at will in the second.
Living up to his nickname “The Lionheart”, Leapai soaked up the champions punches and kept looking – in vain – for a big hay-maker.
But he took several direct hits in the face in the third with Klitschko using his height advantage to stay out of the Australian’s reach.
A sharp left hook caught Leapai in the fourth, but a heavy right-hand from Klitschko midway through the fifth caught Leapai flush on the side of the head and effectively ended the fight.
Leapai was back on his feet by the count of seven, but Klitschko moved in and quickly had the Australian back on the canvas again as the referee waved the end of the fight.
Klitschko suffered the last of his three defeats on April 10, 2004 to Lamon Brewster in Las Vegas and with the 38-year-old peerless in the division, he has said he wants to box on for another ten years.
US legend Joe Louis’s 12-year record for the longest reigning world heavyweight champion will fall if Klitschko is unbeaten for the next four years having won his first title in 2006.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
The five pillars of Islam
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
RESULTS
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The%20Iron%20Claw
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
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The%20Specs
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