Nakatani imposes his authority against Mexican David Cuéllar

▲ The Japanese won by knockout in the third round . Photo Ap

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a12

David Cuellar, nicknamed El General , lost his first fight. He traveled to Japan to fight for the World Boxing Council bantamweight title, but the defender was a real problem, the Japanese Junto Nakatani, who defended with the authority expected and knocked him out in three rounds at the Ariake arena in the city of Tokyo. It is the first defeat for the 23-year-old born in Querétaro.

Cuellar said before this experience in Asia that it was the fight of his dreams. It meant the opportunity that every boxer yearns for to fight for a world championship. Regardless of what traveling to Japan entails, where the challengers have recognized that making these trips is already offering an advantage to the locals, El General set out on the route to the most difficult test of his career.

He called it his dream fight because, if he won, it would mean entering the elite of boxing and therefore aspiring to greater earnings in the future.

But he faced a devastating champion, with titles in three divisions and who has won all four of his bantamweight fights, including the victory over Cuéllar by technical knockout.

With this background, it was clear that Nakatani is a candidate to dominate the bantamweight category and has expressed his ambition to seek other belts, from the WBO, WBA and IBF, all defended by Japanese.

For two rounds, Cuéllar exchanged blows with the tireless champion, quick combinations that foreshadowed a close and emotional duel.

Cuellar wanted to show that he was brave and fast. However, the champion, with a left-handed guard, kept him away with a very effective jab to gain distance and add more force to his surprising left, which whizzed past the Mexican on several occasions.

Until the second episode, the compatriot had glimpses of being a tough contender, although he was alert for the counterattack, the danger was perceived. When attacking, Cuéllar let his guard down and was at the mercy of that enemy left hand that continually brushed his face.

Nakatani is a tough and complex fighter and in the third round he gave Cuéllar no more respite; he punished him in the body to make him neglect the area of ​​the face. Then he struck with speed and finally landed a left hand to the jaw of the Mexican, knocking him down. The General got up to continue the fight, but was again surprised by the Japanese's left, which put him against the ropes and ended up falling back to the canvas. Sitting and confused, he tried to get up, but he looked really outmatched.

Referee Michael Griffin looked at him with compassion and did not allow the fight to continue. The Mexican lowered his head and stood up using the ropes as if they were a ladder to get out of a deep hole, where his dream of becoming a champion was destroyed early Monday morning in Japan.

The Independent

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a12

London. The official Formula One pre-season tests will take place once again in Bahrain from tomorrow to next Friday, while expectations are mounting ahead of the 2025 season, the first in 14 years without the presence of Mexican driver Sergio Pérez, who ended his relationship with Red Bull in 2024.

Bahrain has held the event every year since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the season-opener usually held at the International Circuit in Sakhir.

However, this year, Albert Park in Australia will once again host the first race of the season, something that has not happened since 2019.

The series opener will also be Lewis Hamilton's first race for Ferrari, on March 16.

This means the 20 drivers will have two weeks from three-day pre-season testing to fine-tune the details ahead of another record-breaking 24-race calendar.

The official pre-season tests will take place between tomorrow and Friday 28th.

Following the line of previous years, the track will be open nine hours a day, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to test the cars, make adjustments and get them ready for the start of the season.

Each team has two drivers, so they have two options: give one driver a full day of racing or split the sessions between the two. Either way, barring injury, illness or car breakdown, each driver will have 12 hours in the car over the three days.

The big expectation will be Lewis Hamilton's debut with Ferrari after his stint with Mercedes, the team that presented its W 16 car. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will drive the car in a shakedown in Bahrain on Tuesday.

Russell said he will know within five laps of testing whether he can win this year's world championship. The Mercedes driver, who is entering his fourth year with the team but his first without Hamilton as a teammate, finished sixth in last year's standings; however, he has won two races, in Austria and Las Vegas.

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli joins Russell this year, but having joined the once-great Silver Arrows just after their period of dominance ended in 2021, the 27-year-old will be hoping for a car capable of challenging McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull at the front this year.

I think you know in five laps whether you're in for a good season or not , Russell said.

In the last two years, we knew from the first five laps that we weren't going to fight for the championship. This season has been much more solid.

Russell was involved in a heated dispute with four-time world champion Max Verstappen at the end of last year in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but the British driver looked to cool things down ahead of the new campaign.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has threatened to boycott any future F1 launch events held in England after being booed in London at F1 75 Live last week.

▲ In a close match, American Shelton advanced to the next phase. Photo Afp

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada NewspaperTuesday, February 25, 2025, p. a27

American Ben Shelton rarely forgives. In the first round of the Mexican Tennis Open in Acapulco, the 22-year-old tennis player knocked down all the walls that Italian Flavio Cobolli put in his way in the match and achieved a victory on the edge in two sets 6(4)-(7)7 and 6(4)-(7)7 to advance to the next phase at the GNP Arena.

Shelton endured a test of fire. Facing a complex and dizzying serve from Cobolli, the youngster, considered among the rising jewels of this sport, showed his dominance on break points and did not give in to the pressure of the game. He rarely broke the Italian's serve, but he took advantage of his speed to overcome each challenge that he imposed on him during the night.

With the first set in the bag after a close series of shots, Shelton momentarily lost his balance. Cobolli's responses and movements at the net hurt him. That caused the second period to go to sudden death again, where the Italian looked for his weakest side.

Although there were some difficult situations, including several unforced errors, the American finished off his performance with the power that characterizes his style of play: he moved from one place to another and did not fail when his opponent was physically exhausted. The victory takes him to the next round of the tournament, with a public that gave itself to him and applauded his effort despite the high temperatures of the court.