MACAU // Nine months ago, American Chris Algieri was fighting in a venue holding less than 2,000 spectators, but he enters the big time when he challenges eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title at the Venetian Macao on Sunday.
Algieri, 30, who has been billed by promoters as the “real-life Rocky” because of his rapid and improbable ascension to world title challenger, is not overawed by his situation.
“Yeah, it’s cool, but it doesn’t faze me,” he said in Macau this week ahead of his clash with Pacquiao in the casino city’s 15,000 seat arena.
“I’ve literally seen this in my mind for a long time and now it’s here, it isn’t ‘I made it’; it’s, ‘this is where I’m supposed to be’.”
Algieri earned his title shot the hard way. Nine months ago, his bout with Emanuel Taylor was headlining at a 1,555-seat venue in his hometown of Huntington, New York. That unanimous points decision victory gave him an opportunity against Russia’s WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov in June.
Despite two first-round knockdowns and having to fight with a swollen right eye, Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) prevailed via a 12-round decision to set up the Pacquiao clash.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) recognised that Algieri, who holds a Master’s degree and is contemplating attending medical school, could see the fight as a potential springboard, in much the same way his own 2008 victory over Oscar De La Hoya helped transform him into a global name.
“I will not let that happen,” said Pacquiao, 35. “My time is not over yet. I’m not predicting a knockout, but I’m looking for a good fight and looking to prove I can still fight.”
That is about as close to “talking trash” as Pacquiao will allow himself, but his voluble trainer Freddie Roach was far more willing to dismiss Algieri’s chances.
“He’s in way over his head this time,” Roach said. “Manny’s really on top of his game right now and he’s looking really good. He can’t wait to get in the ring with this guy and show the world he’s a better fighter.”
Undaunted, Algieri insisted that he has the ability to beat Pacquiao.
“We’re not worried about what Manny’s going to do, we’re focused on what I’m going to do, and if I fight my fight, I win,” the challenger said.
The bravado only elicited a snort of derision from Roach.
“They’re trying to make out like Algieri is the next Rocky,” he said,“but this isn’t a movie.”
DeMarco fights for sister
American Jesse Vargas defends his WBA junior welterweight title on the Manny Pacquiao-Chris Algieri undercard in Macau on Sunday undaunted by an opponent who has a huge motivation.
Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco (31-3-1, 23 KOs) received the devastating news that his 13-year-old sister had been struck down with cancer on his arrival at training camp in the Philippines last month.
“I fight for the life of my sister – it’s for her that I’m going in the ring,” DeMarco said.
His sister Mariana was diagnosed with bone cancer in the shoulder and has already started chemotherapy.
DeMarco was distraught at the news but vowed to win the title to show her that the odds can be overcome.
“She would see everything in life can be accomplished with hard work,” he said. “I’m fighting for her dream to have a life.”
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Company Profile
Company name: Namara
Started: June 2022
Founder: Mohammed Alnamara
Based: Dubai
Sector: Microfinance
Current number of staff: 16
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Family offices
UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
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About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
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Dh67
Specs: 2024 McLaren Artura Spider
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and electric motor
Max power: 700hp at 7,500rpm
Max torque: 720Nm at 2,250rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
0-100km/h: 3.0sec
Top speed: 330kph
Price: From Dh1.14 million ($311,000)
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
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Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
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Company name: Twig Solutions (with trade name Twig)
Started: 2021
Founders: Chafic Idriss, Karam El Dik and Rayan Antonios
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: bootstrapped (undisclosed)
Current number of staff: 13
Investment stage: pre-seed — closing the round as we speak
Investors: senior executives from the GCC financial services industry and global family offices
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
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The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen
The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser
This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen
A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB
The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free
Subsequent computer versions will include improvements such as wireless keyboards
Arabic voice in affordable talking computer to be added next year to English, Portuguese, and Spanish synthesiser
Partnerships planned during Expo 2020 Dubai to add more languages
At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness
More than 90 per cent live in developing countries
The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
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Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
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AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports
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Stars: Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia