Only a handful of boxers have been able to make successful comebacks in
their thirties: Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson etc. Bernard Hopkins is another of that
rare breed able to compete successfully at elite level outside the heavyweight
division (the heavies can make up for diminished reflexes with punching power-Foreman
is the best example). It’s a cliche
that there’s no hiding place in the ring, but Ricky Hatton was the latest to suffer the unforgiving examination last
weekend, when he was stopped in the ninth by Senchenko. The Ukrainian is the kind
of opponent he would have comfortably handled at his peak.
Speaking of great comebacks: in October there were two great recoveries
from 4-0 down, Arsenal v Reading in the League Cup (7-5 aet),& Sweden grabbed
a 4-all draw against Germany in their World Cup qualifier.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic reputedly has quite an ego, but now has the feats to
back it up against an English team . His four brilliant goals against an
experimental England side dispelled the myth that he can never bring his best
form against English teams.
The days of English teams dominating the Champions League are long gone. (Chelsea’s
win last year was something of a freak, they massively over-achieved) The scale
of the decline is evident this year with two teams (Man City & Chelsea) looking
likely to go out at the group stage.
Performance of the Month
October- Sweden.
November-Ibrahimovic.
Honourable Mentions:
Tonga beat Scotland in international (15 a side) rugby for the first time,
with several Tongan players in tears at the final whistle as the scale of their
achievement sunk in.
Celtic, who averaged 20 % of possesion in their two UCL games with Barcelona, but pulled off an upset 2-1 win at Parkhead & were unlucky to lose in Camp Nou.
Djokovic, undefeated champion at the ATP Tour Finals & the first player since Federer to finish as year-end no. 1 in two consecutive years.
Celtic, who averaged 20 % of possesion in their two UCL games with Barcelona, but pulled off an upset 2-1 win at Parkhead & were unlucky to lose in Camp Nou.
Djokovic, undefeated champion at the ATP Tour Finals & the first player since Federer to finish as year-end no. 1 in two consecutive years.
Carl Froch, who destroyed Yusaf Mack in four rounds to re-establish his
status as the leading contender at super-middle.
Sebastian Vettel, who became the youngest to win a hat-trick of F1 world titles
& must be a great bet to beat Schumacher’s record of seven titles.
