FRIDAY, 1.00PM:
SOUTH AFRICAN and International Boxing Federation champion Mbulelo Botile defends his title against American Tim Austin on Saturday night at the Nashville Arena. A victory for Botile will earn him a fight with International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organisation champion Naseem “Prince” Hamed of Britain. Botile is reported to be in good shape.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sport Steve Tshwete has sent a message to Baby Jake Matlatla, who challenges the International Boxing Association champion Michael Carbajal in Las Vegas on Friday night. “I am unable to contain my excitement as I await the fight. I urge you to remain calm throughout the fight. As Carbajal was once rated the best pound-for-pound puncher in the world, I encourage you to be alert and vigilant at all times. The nation calls for nothing less than your best perfomance at this most important hour in your sporting life,” he said.
SPORT BRIEFS
TRACK LOSES TO ROADRUNNING OLD MUTUAL on Thursday announced its sponsorhip of South African road running. The company recently withdrew its sponsorship of track and field athletics. “We wanted to get involved in something that involved mass participation. That’s why we’ve focused our attention on road running,” said Old Mutual’s communication manager, Stephen Bowey.
SA 2-0 UP ON AUSSIES SOUTH AFRICA’S women’s hockey side beat Australia 1-0 on Thursday night at the Pretoria Technikon. South Africa’s solitary goal was scored by Pietie Coetzee. South Africa now lead the series 2-0.
GOLF DEVELOPMENT TWO teams are joint leaders in the R60 000 Ellerines Development Better-Ball golf tournament at Houghton courts, Johannesburg. Neil Homann and Greg van Coller put together rounds of 65 and 66 to share the lead with Callie Swart and David Riddle’s 64 and 67. The final will be played on Friday.
DISCUS QUALIFIER SOUTH AFRICAN discus star Fritz Potgieter threw a World Championship-qualifying 64,16m at a meeting in Sheffield, England, on Tuesday.
From the latest Mail & Guardian: Fritz books late for trip to Athens
SA SURFERS DUMPED The nine South Africans who advanced from round four of the Gunston 500 surfing tournament at the North Beach in Durban were reduced to seven on Thursday. Pierre Tostee and Justin Maisch failed to advance to the next round.
FERREIRA OUT AGAIN SOUTH AFRICA’S Wayne Ferreira is out of the Mercedes-Benz Cup tennis tournament after being beaten by Sergei Bruguera 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday.
KRUGER WINS SOUTH AFRICA’S Joanette Kruger beat Nina Louarsabishivili of Georgia 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the second round of the Czech Open tennis tournament on Thursday in Prague.