Victorious Froch wants Calzaghe

Carl Froch and his promoter Mick Hennessy will try to tempt Joe Calzaghe into one last fight by offering the Welshman a deal he cannot refuse.

Nottingham man Froch beat Canada's Jean Pascal in his home town on Saturday to claim the WBC super-middleweight title.

Froch is due to fight Jermain Taylor in a mandatory defence next but, if the American turns the offer down, Froch and Hennessy will pursue the Welshman.

"We'd love Calzaghe next more than anything," Hennessy told BBC Sport.

Hennessy offered Calzaghe £5m to fight Froch earlier in the year. Calzaghe instead took a fight with Roy Jones Jr, but Froch's promoter said he would return with an increased offer in an attempt to secure the fight.

"Taylor is the next mandatory opponent for Carl, but he has to be a man and take the fight, if he doesn't then will we go after Calzaghe and improve the offer."
If 31-year-old Froch were to meet Taylor, it would probably take place at New York's Madison Square Garden in April, Hennessy confirmed.

Froch has chased Calzaghe since 2004, but has always done so as a challenger.

Now the tables are turned and with Froch's stock having risen dramatically after his sensational unanimous points victory over Pascal, 36-year-old Calzaghe may well be tempted by one last fight, which would be likely to happen at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"If Calzaghe doesn't retire then I'd love to fight him, but he knows that already," said Froch.

"I've got the title he vacated and if he wants it back he can come and get it.

"But realistically I know he wouldn't drop down to super-middleweight and I don't really want to go up to light-heavyweight so I'd compromise and meet him at a catch weight of around 172lb.

"It's the fight all of Britain wants, they've seen what I can do and they've seen what an exciting boxer I am."

If Taylor and Calzaghe fall through then Hennessy is sure there are other big fights out there for his man.

He said: "For once the ball is in our court, we have the best belt in world boxing."

IBF champion Lucian Bute and WBA holder Mikkel Kessler are two such names, and both are fighters Froch would love to meet.

Bute, who is unbeaten in 23 fights, lives in Canada and Hennessy said Froch would travel to Montreal to meet the Romanian-born southpaw, if the deal was right.

Dane Kessler has only been beaten once in 41 fights, by Calzaghe last year. That is a fight that would most likely take place in Nottingham again.

"What he has done here has made him a marquee fighter," said Hennessy.

"Carl is the most exciting boxer in the world and is a true champion.

Froch added: "I'd fancy IBF champion Bute, it would be a good fight and even though Kessler has been beaten by Calzaghe, he can come again.

"I know he was injured going into that fight and probably should have pulled out, so he's still a dangerous fighter."

Froch also revealed that he came close to pulling out of Saturday's fight as late as the week before, having suffered ear, eye and rib injuries during intensive sparring sessions at his six-week training camp in Ireland.

But he ignored the advice of promoter Hennessy, who wanted to withdraw his man, and boxed on. He met Pascal to claim the WBC title in what will go down as one of the best world title fights Britain has seen.

For Froch, victory ends years of frustration and announces his arrival onto the world scene.

"Pascal can come again, but I am 31 and needed to win this fight. This was my chance and I had to take it and I think that showed," said Froch.

"It was the hardest fight of my career and he caught me with some good shots but I showed I am a true fighter and that's why everyone loves coming to see me fight.

"I thought I had him a few times, but every time he looked in trouble he came back at me like a wounded animal. He was a dangerous opponent."

Bolton 0-2 Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka returned to haunt his former club with the opener as Chelsea returned to winning ways in impressive fashion at the Reebok Stadium.

The Frenchman put Chelsea ahead when he headed home Jose Bosingwa's cross after nine minutes, and Deco wrapped up the points with a superb scissors-kick.

The Blues had chances for a third, but Bolton responded valiantly late on.

Gary Cahill wasted their best chance, though, as Chelsea set a new record of 11 straight top-flight away victories.

It surpassed the record set by Tottenham in 1960 and Chelsea will be encouraged by the omens as Spurs went on to win the league in the 1960-61 season.

And Luiz Felipe Scolari will know that if Chelsea can replicate their away form at Stamford Bridge they will be in with a shout come next May, for this was a fine win that keeps up the pressure on leaders Liverpool, who also won.

The hosts came into the match on the back of four wins in five matches but, with Chelsea unbeaten at Bolton since 1997, the Trotters could have done without Kevin Davies missing a header when unmarked from Gavin McCann's corner.

It was a chance the striker would normally expect to get on target and he was made to pay when, barely a minute later, Chelsea were ahead.

Bosingwa was the creator, the right-back clipping a perfect cross into the area for Anelka to head in off the post to mark his first match against Bolton since his £15m departure with a goal.

Bolton responded but, apart from a Matthew Taylor long-ranger and a series of uncharacteristic flaps at crosses from Petr Cech, rarely threatened.

And on 21 minutes Deco showed the hosts how it is done in emphatic style, the Portuguese playmaker latching on to Michael Ballack's flick with a superb scissors-kick that flew into the corner.

Given the Blues' ruthlessness away from home, the second goal was the last thing Bolton needed. Chelsea were able to soak up pressure and hit the hosts on the break, with Deco guilty of a poor miss when he shot wide when through.

However, Bolton refused to give in and, to their credit, caused the odd moment of panic in the Chelsea box.

Twice the visitors had strong appeals for a penalty waved away, first when John Terry appeared to block Johan Elmander's shot with his arm - though it was by his side - and then when the same player handled Davies's header.

Both would have been harsh, though, and it was Cahill that missed the Trotters' best chance, diving on to Davies's flick-on only for Cech to beat his header away from goal.

It proved the Trotters' final chance and their brave second-half display was, ultimately, to no avail, Chelsea seeing out their first win in three matches.
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Chelsea assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins:
"It was a great win for us. When we needed to fight, we fought, and when we could we played good football and made some very good chances, so we're delighted.

"We're not too concerned about the record, all we're worried about is silverware so this was all about three points.

"Of course our away form is exceptional but no-one here is worried about our home form. That will come, I'm sure."

Bolton manager Gary Megson:
"You can always take positives out of a game once you sit and analyse it but at this moment in time I'm disappointed - not just with the result, but with the way we played in the first half.

"We always try to push on against teams and take the game to them - get in their face, to use a players' expression - but we just weren't intense enough in the opening half.

"Ultimately, it has cost us because you can't expect to give a team like Chelsea a two-goal lead and get away with it. Yes, we did better in the second half, but by then it was too late."
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Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel (Smolarek 80), Davies, McCann, Nolan, Muamba (Gardner 46), Taylor, Elmander.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Riga, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi.

Booked: Davies, Andrew O'Brien.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ivanovic 89), Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Kalou (Ferreira 83), Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Sinclair, Mineiro, Stoch, Woods.

Booked: Ballack.

Goals: Anelka 9, Deco 21.

Att: 22,023

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Alexandre Gaydamak ready to sell Portsmouth

Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak has put the club up for sale.

The 32-year-old Franco-Russian businessman cited growing business commitments for his decision.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I have come to realise over a period of time that I can no longer invest the time required to oversee the running of the club."

However, Gaydamak said he will not sell to anyone without a guarantee they will commit to funding a new stadium and training ground for the club.

Gaydamak became co-owner of Portsmouth, alongside then-chairman Milan Mandaric, in January 2006.

He bought out Mandaric at a cost of about £32m to solely take the helm at Fratton Park in July that same year, and set out his strategy to find a new stadium and training facilities for the club.

Gaydamak insists he will now seek assurances that any potential buyer will ensure those ambitions become reality.

He said: "As regards the new stadium and training ground it is sensible to re-evaluate things in the current market, but I stress that it is imperative that they go ahead.

"And until I find a buyer who will give me cast iron assurances that this will be the case, I will remain at the club.

"I have already rejected two offers for the club because I didn't feel the buyers' motives were in the best interests of the club's long-term future.

"Making money from the sale of the club does not interest me. Finding the right buyer is far more important."

FIFA satisfied with meeting of the sports ministers of the European Union

Following the meeting of the European sports ministers that took place in Biarritz, France on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 November, to which the Olympic and sporting movement was also invited, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter said: "I am satisfied with the coming together of viewpoints and the strong support for the notions of specificity, autonomy and self-regulation of sport that was demonstrated by the 27 European ministers during the meeting in Biarritz. The unanimous support of the ministers and their desire for dialogue point towards a bright future for the Olympic and sporting movement."

The unity and desire for structured dialogue with the European authorities shown by the Olympic and sporting movement, led by Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, who made an impressive speech at the meeting, coupled with the backing given among others by the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations, the International Ice Hockey Federation, the International Basketball Federation, the International Rugby Board and UEFA, give cause for great satisfaction at the progress of the discussions.

A private meeting between the FIFA President and the European Commissioner Jan Figel allowed both parties to allay certain doubts regarding the application of the specificity and autonomy of sport.

Blatter is equally delighted by the unanimous agreement voiced by the 27 European sports ministers on the need for dialogue and discussion of the "6+5" rule while respecting its compatibility with EU law.

The 27 European sports ministers issued the following joint statement with regard to the "6+5" rule: "... the ministers express their interest in and want to encourage further discussions on the initiatives of international federations to encourage the teams of professional clubs in each country to develop the presence of athletes capable of qualifying for national teams, in compliance with EU law, to strengthen the regional and national rules of professional clubs."

The FIFA President also spoke about the measures being taken by FIFA to protect minors and training clubs. These met with the appreciation of the European ministers.

Forum mulls enhanced EU sports role

The first European Sports Forum, held last week in the French town of Biarritz, kicked off a renewed EU-level stakeholder dialogue between the sector and the European Commission in view of a future EU competence on sport.

Around 200 representatives of European sports organisations, national sport confederations, National Olympic Committees and international sports stakeholders took stock of the implementation of the 2007 White Paper on Sport and discussed grassroots sports financing.

The Commission noted declining solidarity in sports funding as a result of increased internationalisation and competitiveness of professional sport, launching an independent study into the financing of grassroots sport in the EU 27 in early 2009.

The study will examine the sources of sports financing, covering national regulatory aspects that have an impact on funding streams related to the application of EU law, such as national monopolies on gambling.

A significant part of the forum was dedicated to the specific nature of sport. Here, the discussions mainly focused on football's disputed '6 5 rule' , proposed by FIFA to limit the number of foreign players in club competitions. The EU executive and the European Parliament argue that such a rule would constitute discrimination based on nationality and break Community law, which guarantees freedom of movement for workers.

EU sports ministers, an an informal meeting connected with the forum, asked the Commission to consider the matter of 6+5 and come up with a solution. Ministers also echoed a previous call from the European Parliament and the sports movement for EU executive to provide sports organisations clearer legal guidelines on the application of EU law.

Positions:
Several sports stakeholders told EurActiv that it was "a pity" that the forum's programme was dominated by long presentations and speeches, leaving no time for real discussion or dialogue between stakeholders.

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter welcomed EU sports ministers' support for "the need for dialogue and discussion of the '6+5 rule' while respecting its compatibility with EU law".

"Sport does not aspire to put itself above the law," UEFA President Michel Platini told the ministers, "but it is specific. Sport is not an economic activity like any other. Football is a game rather than just a product or a market. It is a spectacle rather than just a business".

Platini urged Europe to change its stance, arguing "sporting equity and competition balance cannot be submitted to arbitrary market laws". Europe must "take inspiration from sport, instead of imposing on sport unsound ideological models which have been pre-manufactured elsewhere," he said, calling on the European Commission to provide more legal certainty and adopt guidelines allowing professional football to remain within European law without compromising its autonomy.

Mogens Kirkeby, president of the International Sport and Culture Association, warned that general economic stagnation would lead to a decrease in the overall financial resources available for sport. "A strong international and national focus on the elite sport after the Olympic Games, will create a competition on the available resources within the sport sector and it will put grassroots sport under economic pressure," he said.

Kirkeby thinks that more sectors must be inspired and encouraged to contribute financial resources to grassroots sport. "The starting point for such involvement of other public and private financial partners is the instrumental abilities [such as contribution to health or social integration] of grassroots sport," he added.

Echoing Kirkeby's concerns about the imbalance in attention and funding given to elite and grassroot sport, Enrique Sanchez-Guijo Acevedo, president of the European Paralympic Committee, said there was no doubt that competitive sport was "a very complex reality and that it merits profound analysis".

However, he underlined that elite sport is nourished by grassroot sports. "We cannot take the risk of over-talking about elite sports while losing sight of its essential backbone: base sports," he said.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Golden Ball award

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the fourth Manchester United player to take the honour and the first since fellow winger George Best in 1968.

Ronaldo's brilliant scoring form helped him beat Barcelona striker Lionel Messi into second place, while Liverpool forward Fernando Torres was third in the poll results announced overnight by France Football magazine.

Ronaldo dominated the voting, tallying 446 points. Messi had 281 points and Torres had 179.

That gave Ronaldo two points more than Kaka won last year's award with.

Ronaldo was second last year with 277, while Messi was third with 255. Kaka, Milan's Brazilian playmaker, was eighth this time with only 31 points.

Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions last season as United won the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

The 23-year-old Ronaldo adds the Ballon d'Or award to the FIFA Pro World Player of the Year trophy he won in October, and the Professional Footballers Association and the Football Writers awards.

He also becomes the first Premier League player to win since former Liverpool forward Michael Owen in 2001, and the first Portuguese player since winger Luis Figo won it with Real Madrid in 2000.

France Football's award was decided by an annual poll of football journalists with a short list of 30 players.

Following Portugal's disappointing showing at the European Championship in June, Ronaldo underwent an operation to his troublesome right ankle injury in July that then kept him sidelined until September 17.

Milkha didn’t know Mary Kom was a champion boxer

World champion says the athletic legend struck off her name from the list of Khel Ratna nominees as he hadn’t heard about her

MC Mary Kom may have been a three-time champion going into the World Championships at Ningbo City in China, but no one would have wagered on her taking gold once again. After all, she had been busy giving birth to and rearing her twin sons, a two-year hiatus not one that prepares a boxer for such a top-class competition.

But the diminutive 25-year-old from Manipur proved a widely believed theory — will power often makes up for any deficiencies in preparation. Mary’s actual dream run comprised avenging her loss in the final of the Asian Championships in September, putting it 8-3 across against Korean Ok Jong in the semifinals in China, and then powering her way to a 7-1 verdict against Romanian Steluta Duta in the final.

The fatigue of returning in the early hours of the morning may have subdued her voice a little, but the words were as precise as her punches.

“It was not as easy as it might seem. It is definitely the best of my four medals because I managed to win despite coming back after such a long lay-off. I had put in a lot of hard work during the last four months and it proved worth the effort,” said Mary, quick to thank her near and dear ones.

“But for their support, I could not have done it. I was a little disappointed after losing to Ok Jong in the final of the Asian Championships and I was also not taking well to the thought of leaving my children to go and compete,” said the champion 46 kg pugilist, who is fast becoming a household name.

Coach Anup Kumar was all praise for Mary, saying her cool mind and superior basics saw her cruise through.

“I was expecting her to finish in the medals bracket, though gold had seemed improbable. But she gave little chance to her opponents with her superb reach, speed and counter-attacks,” said Kumar.

“I think this is the best example that one can have of a comeback. Just imagine, returning to top-class boxing after two years, practicing for just four months and then producing such high class stuff! This is what dreams are made of,” he added.

Mary Kom though revealed that she was hurt about being ignored for the Khel Ratna award.

“I have won the World Championship four times on the trot. Mahendra Singh Dhoni gets a Khel Ratna for winning just one World Cup, I fail to understand why am I being ignored then. How can anybody expect an athlete to stay motivated if he or she is ignored like that?” Mary Kom said.

Mary Kom said that what hurt her the most was the fact that it was sheer ignorance about which sport she competes in that could have cost her the award. “Last year, when my name was recommended by the federation, I had been short-listed along with Dhoni but Arjuna awards selection committee chairman Milkha Singh struck off my name saying that he did not know which sport I competed in. That hurt me terribly,” she revealed.

“I want to ask him today, how many more titles do I have to win for him and for the country to believe that I deserve the honour?” she asked. “Don’t give me the award if you think I am not worthy but please don’t insult me with statements like that.”