Usyk Targets Fury After Beating Joshua On Split Decision

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August 21, 2022

Oleksandr Usyk v Anthony Joshua – WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world title – King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – August 20, 2022 Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning his fight against Anthony Joshua with the Ukrainian flag

Oleksandr Usyk turned his sights on rival heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury on Sunday after beating Britain’s Anthony Joshua on a split points decision to retain his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in Jeddah.

The “Rage on the Red Sea” in Saudi Arabia was a rematch of a fight in London in September, which the Ukrainian won on a unanimous decision to take Joshua’s belts, but with more intensity and emotion.

The pressure was on both former Olympic champions, with Usyk this time representing a country fighting for its existence after a Russian invasion while Joshua was battling for his boxing future.

Usyk appeared comfortably ahead as the final bell rang at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena but the American judge surprisingly awarded the fight 115-113 to Joshua.

The British and Ukrainian judgesdecided 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk.

The victory took the 35-year-old’s professional record to 20 fights undefeated while Joshua, 32, suffered a third defeat in what could prove a watershed in his career.

Joshua, who had held aloft the Ukrainian flag with Usyk as they waited for the decision in what seemed an acceptance of defeat, then had an uncharacteristic meltdown.

He took two of the belts, dropping them as he left the ring and headed for the dressing room before turning around and stepping back between the ropes to take the microphone and address the crowd.

“Usyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion,” declared the Briton.

“For this guy to beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better but it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in, so please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world.

“I was studying Ukraine and all the champions from your amazing country. I’ve never been there. What’s happening there, I don’t know but it’s not nice … under those circumstances he’s managed to become champion.”

SWEAT-SOAKED CANVAS

The opening round was tentative, with Joshua’s corner calling for him to adjust his rhythm, and the bout continued with Usyk using his jab and body shots to good effect.

Round eight was briefly halted for towels to mop the slippery, sweat-soaked canvas but round nine raised the heat again, with Joshua enjoying his best before Usyk came back hard in the 10th.

Needing a knockout and running out of time, the taller and heavier Joshua was unable to land the telling blows against an agile and elusive opponent who hit back hard.

“In the ninth round I thought we had him,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “The 10th round was one of the best rounds I’ve seen.

“What Usyk did in the 10th, the 11th and the 12th was incredible and that was the difference tonight because AJ didn’t start fast enough but he fought a much better fight.

“He hurt Usyk badly in the ninth and I felt like he was going to come on strong. But Usyk came out like a train.”

At the final bell the two embraced and the Ukrainian, who had entered the ring in a yellow and blue “Colors of Freedom” top while Joshua was dressed all in black, dropped to his knees.

Usyk’s thoughts then turned to the next chapter and another Briton to beat, although WBC champion Fury has declared himself retired.

“I am convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. And if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all,” Usyk told the crowd through a ringside interpreter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed a “difficult but important and necessary victory.”

“Defending a world championship title is a symbol that whoever is from the Cossack tradition will not give up what is his, will fight for it and will win without any doubt,” he wrote on Facebook.

Lagos Urges Property Owners To Use Professionals Instead Of Underage Persons For Construction

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Angel Gimalo

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August 21, 2022

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Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) has expressed its concern about the use of underage persons on construction sites in Lagos, noting that the rampant practice is worrisome and must be stopped.

The General Manager of LASPPPA, Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike, disclosed this while speaking on the report of an enforcement exercise carried out by the Monitoring and Compliance Unit of the Authority, maintaining that the trend is common in most construction sites across the State.

While stating that the Authority frowns at the despicable act, the General Manager called on Property Owners and Developers to desist from using children as labourers at their construction sites which, according to him, is tantamount to child abuse.

Osinaike lamented the negative effect of child abuse and exploitation, stressing that such practices deprive the children of their childhood apart from subjecting them to strenuous work that is also mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful to their well-being.

The General Manager also advised all Property Owners and Developers in Lagos State to always seek the services of experienced professionals in the built sector before embarking on any projects as against using quacks.

On his part, the Director, Monitoring and Compliance Unit, Tpl. Iyiola Olarinde, said apart from the child-labourer issue, there is also a need to be security conscious about those engaged to work on sites, adding that employers should get detailed information, particularly about where they live and their next-of-kin.

He enjoined builders to ensure that all employees at construction sites make use of appropriate safety kits including helmets, safety boots and reflective jackets among others.

Sad Saturday For NIGERIA As Usman Loses Ufc Welterweight Title After Joshua’s Boxing Loss

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Emenike Agu

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August 21, 2022

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Mixed Martial Arts – Ultimate Fighting Championship – UFC – Leon Edwards v Gunnar Nelson – O2 Arena, London, Britain – March 16, 2019 Leon Edwards in action against Gunnar Nelson during their fight

Briton Leon Edwards pulled off a fifth-round head-kick knockout out of nowhere to dethrone Kamaru Usman and win the UFC welterweight title at UFC 278 on Saturday to crown one of the greatest comebacks in mixed martial arts history.

The 30-year-old Jamaican-born British fighter looked to be headed for a defeat on the judges’ scorecards when he faked a jab with his left hand and then landed a left-foot kick to the head that sparked the 35-year-old Nigerian to claim the belt.

“They all doubted me, they all said I couldn’t do it – look at me now!” Edwards roared in his post-fight interview in the cage.

Edwards is only the second British fighter to hold a UFC title, following in the footsteps of Michael Bisping, who won the middleweight tile in 2016.

On a streak of 15 wins in the UFC coming into the bout, Usman struggled in the first round as Edwards, whom he beat in their only previous meeting in 2015, shocked him by taking him down to the mat for the first time in his UFC career.

Edwards threatened to finish the fight with a rear naked choke but Usman, who was making his sixth title defence, survived and came roaring back in the second round as Edwards appeared to stumble early on.

The 35-year-old Usman then returned to the kind of suffocating wrestling that has been the bedrock of his fighting style since he turned pro in 2012, backing his opponent up to the fence and taking him down at will.

He dominated Edwards and looked like he would retain the belt again until the challenger starched him with that kick with just 56 seconds left in the fight.

“I’m from the trenches, I’m built like this, I battle until the battle is done. I’ve been down my whole life, and look at me now!” an elated Edwards said.

It’s Mission Impossible For Anthony Joshua!

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Emenike Agu

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August 21, 2022

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Oleksandr Usyk v Anthony Joshua – WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world title – King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – August 20, 2022 Anthony Joshua in action against Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua’s bid to recapture the unified heavyweight titles ended in disappointment as Oleksandr Usyk produced a terrific performance to win by split decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In a clash billed as the Rage on the Red Sea, a spirited Joshua, 32, showed some aggressiveness and intent – a vast improvement from their first fight – but could not match the brilliance and ring savviness of the Ukrainia

Two judges scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk, while a third judge gave it 115-113 to the challenger. While there were some close rounds, Usyk was the deserved winner.

At the end of the fight, a furious Joshua – quite bizarrely – picked up two of Usyk’s belts, dropped them on the floor and strode towards the dressing room, before turning round and getting back into the ring to give an impassioned speech.

“Usyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion,” he said. “If you knew my story, you’d understand the passion. I’m not an amateur boxer. I was going to jail and I got bail and I started training.

“It shows the passion we put into this. For this guy to beat me tonight, it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in, so please give him a round of applause as heavyweight champion of world.

“They said that I’m not a 12-round fighter. I ain’t 14 stone, I’m 18 stone, I’m heavy. It’s hard work. This guy here is phenomenal.”

Joshua has now suffered back-to-back defeats against Usyk, with the champion retaining the WBA (Super), WBO and IBF titles he won in London last September.

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Exploring The 1926 Prince Of Wales Hotel, Canada

By

Angel Gimalo

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August 21, 2022

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The Prince of Wales Hotel is a historic and quite iconic hotel which is located in the hamlet Waterton, in the southwestern part of the Province of Alberta, within the western part of Canada.

As the hotel is part of the Waterton Lakes National Park, where it overlooks the Upper Waterton Lakes, it stands proudly since 1927 when it was officially opened for guests.

The official date of construction was in August 1926, and it was designed by Thomas D.

McMahon and specifically built for the former American Class I railroad company, the Great Northern Railway Company.

An interesting fact is that this is the only grand railway hotel in Canada that was built by a company that was based in the United States of America.

Still, the hotel building follows a very unique and original rustic architectural style, although some people would say that it also adopts some elements from the Swiss chalet style.

The wooden building has 7 floors, it is 37 meters (121 feet) tall with great detailing and it is considered to be one of the best railway hotels in North America.

The hotel was named after Edward VIII, who was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India until his abdication in December 1936.

This was an attempt to allure the then Prince of Wales to stay in the hotel during his 1927 Canadian tour, although in the end, the Prince stayed at his ranch that was nearby.

As the hotel is surrounded by magnificent mountains and mesmerizing vistas of the Waterton Lakes, its near location to the Alberta Highway 5 attracts many visitors who would like to see the excellent architecture and also to discover the other major landmarks and local attractions that are in the vicinity of the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Probably the main reason for the construction of the hotel by an American company and near the Canada-US border was to lure more American tourists who would want to drink during the US prohibition era where between 1920 and 1933 there was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages in the USA.

This was a nice attraction for many Americans to come to this place, and not just then, but even nowadays the hotel is frequently visited by many people.

There is a great number of guests rooms that offer a comfortable stay, in addition to the two luxurious suites.

Furthermore, there are also events which are organized here, so the Royal Stewart Dining Hall is definitely a place to be since it features large windows that look over Upper Waterton Lake, and it is a perfect spot to sit, enjoy a meal while the stupendous landscape inspires with its amazing beauty.

All in all, the Prince of Wales Hotel is definitely something that should not be missed whenever in the southern part of Alberta, because it will give every visitor a glimpse of the historic past of the Waterton Lakes National Park, and if those traveling have a checklist of seeing each of the National Historic Sites of Canada, then they would be able to cross this amazing architectural treasure.

Akwa Ibom: Firm Renovates Dilapidated School Building

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 21, 2022

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Over 60 pupils of the Community Primary School, Ibuot Utan Effiat, an island in Mbo Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State, who endured over ten years of decayed infrastructures, last week, heaved a sigh of relief as Oriental Energy Resources Limited, renovated the school building.

A statement in Uyo on Sunday by the company’s Managing director, Mustafa Indimi, said the school’s building was in various stages of dilapidation, including leaking roof and lack of toilet facilities.

He added that most of the pupils were not wearing uniform nor shoes before the intervention.

According to Indimi, the intervention was borne out of the company’s initiative of building quality schools in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and quality education for all.

The statement read in part ” Prior to the project by Oriental Energy, the community Primary school with more than 60 children and a total of 4 classrooms barely had no seats in the crumbling classroom; no restroom, and no uniform nor shoes for most of the children.

“The restoration and provision of new facilities is part of our wider initiative of building safe schools to support inclusive and quality education across communities.

“This is in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 4 as well as evidence of implementation of the community assisted project component of Oriental Energy’s Project Specific Memorandum of Understanding with Effiat community.”

The MD, who noted that the company considers its host communities as critical stakeholders, disclosed that Effiat community had benefited from the company’s social intervention programme including a five-day free medical outreach and capacity building workshop on Sustainable Community Planning.

While noting that the company would thrive to” create positive and sustainable footprints through projects and programs to improve the quality of life in various communities”, the MD said the contract for renovation was awarded to an indigene of Effiat in line with the local content specifications.

Meanwhile, the community, including teachers and students have described the intervention as commendable.

A teacher in the school, Ruth Etim, said “I am so happy. We didn’t even have a toilet at all. Now we have three new lavatories, and new buildings with four classrooms and blackboards. We now have so many chairs and desks;More than enough for our children.”

A Board Member of the Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board. John U. Udoh described Oriental Energy as a pacesetter in educational development in Mbo and the state at large.

He said, “This is one sure way the company has proven that education is serious business. Investing in education, especially at this basic level, is an investment in economic development and prosperity of the state.”

NBA-NEC Ratifies Suspension of Gen- Sec Oduah

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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August 21, 2022

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The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-NEC) has ratified the suspension of the General Secretary of the Association, Joyce Oduah.

It took the decision at the ongoing NBA-NEC Meeting holding on the sidelines of the 2022 NBA Annual General Conference at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

The NEC last Monday exercised its emergency powers under Section 9(6)(d) of the NBA Constitution by suspending the General Secretary pending the ratification of the NBA-NEC.

In the resolution passed by the National Executive Committee, the NBA-NEC was also invited to investigate the actions of the suspended General Secretary and possibly remove her from office.

At the ongoing NBA-NEC meeting, the NBA-NEC considered the counsel of the elders of the Bar including past Presidents and Senior Advocates of Nigeria on the need to protect the unity of the Bar and the glorious legacies of the Olumide Akpata administration and resolved that the suspension be ratified.

Oduah therefore stands suspended as General Secretary while Uche Nwadialo’s appointment as Acting General Secretary was ratified.

The petition for Oduah’s removal was stayed in view of the pendency of the action in court.

Once Upon A Time – August 21 – 2015 – After 108 Years, “Message In A Bottle” Put In Sea By UK Marine Biological Association Is Found On Beach In Germany

By

Angel Gimalo

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August 21, 2022

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1192 Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the de facto ruler of Japan. (Traditional Japanese date: July 12, 1192)

1703 The Edirne Event: Turkish army removes Sultan Mustafa II, lessening the power of the sultans

1772 King Gustav III of Sweden completes a coup d’etat by adopting a new Constitution and installing himself as an enlightened despot, ending 50 years of parliamentary rule

1888 American inventor William Seward Burroughs patents the adding machine

1911 “Mona Lisa” stolen from the Louvre by Vincenzo Perugia; recovered in 1913

1959 Hawaii becomes the 50th US state

1991 Conservative coup in the Soviet Union is crushed by popular resistance led by Boris Yeltsin in three days

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1942 Walt Disney’s animated movie “Bambi”, based on the book by Felix Salten, is released

2020 Koreon pop group BTS releases single “Dynamite,”; becomes 1st video to be watched more than 100 million times in 24 hours on YouTube

Today in Music
2001 “How You Remind Me” single released by Nickelback (Billboard Song of the Year 2002)

Today in Sport
1986 Ian Botham takes world-record 356th Test Cricket wkt (v NZ, The Oval)

MORE FACTS…
2015 1st British unmanned drone hit on a UK citizen outside a conflict – ISIS fighter Reyaad Khan in Raqqa, Syria

2015 After 108 years a “message in a bottle” put in the sea by UK Marine Biological Association is announced found on a beach in Amrum, Germany

Famous Weddings
1745 Future Russian Tsar Peter III marries Ekaterina Alexeievna later Catherine II (Catherine the Great)

1869 Business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt marries second wife and cousin Frank Armstrong Crawford in London, Ontario

1929 Painter Diego Rivera (42) weds fellow artist Frida Kahlo (22)

Auction: 1976 Steve Jobs Apple-1 Computer Sold At $677,196

By

Angel Gimalo

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August 21, 2022

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An authenticated Apple-1 Computer prototype from the mid-1970s has sold at auction for nearly $700,000.

The prototype was used by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 1976 to demonstrate the Apple-1 to Paul Terrell, owner of The Byte Shop in Mountain View, California, one of the first personal computer stores in the world, Boston-based RR Auction said in a statement.

A Bay Area collector who wishes to remain anonymous made the winning $677,196 bid, the auctioneeer said.

“There is no Apple-1 without this board — it’s the holy grail of Steve Jobs and Apple memorabilia,” said Bobby Livingston, RR’s executive vice president.

The board has been matched to Polaroid photographs taken by Terrell in 1976, showing the prototype in use.

It was also examined and authenticated by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen, whose notarized 13-page report accompanied the sale.

The prototype resided on the Apple Garage property for many years before being given by Jobs to the seller about 30 years ago.

Once Upon A Time – August 20 – 1619 – 1st Known African Americans in English North America Land Virginia

By

Angel Gimalo

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August 20, 2022

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1597 1st Dutch East India Company ships return from the Far East

1619 1st known African Americans in English North America (approx. 20) land at Point Comfort (Fort Monroe), Virginia. They are then sold or traded into servitude.

1741 Alaska first sighted by Danish explorer Vitus Bering at head of Russian expedition

1866 President Andrew Johnson formally declares US Civil War over

1905 Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen forms the first chapter of T’ung Meng Hui, a union of all secret societies determined to bringing down the Manchus (Qing dynasty)

1968 During the night 250,000 Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia in response to the Prague Spring

1993 Oslo Peace Accords signed, after secret negotiations in Norway, followed by a public ceremony in Washington, D.C. the following month

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1951 12th Venice Film Festival: “Rashomon” directed by Akira Kurosawa wins the Golden Lion

Today in Music
1882 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” debuts in Moscow

Today in Sport
1920 American Professional Football Association forms; Jim Thorpe installed as president; later to become the National Football League (NFL)

2000 PGA Championship Men’s Golf, Valhalla GC: Tiger Woods becomes first since Ben Hogan (1953) to win 3 majors in a calendar year; wins back-to-back PGA titles in 3-hole playoff with Bob May

1940 British PM Churchill says of Royal Air Force, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”

1888 Longest US men’s single tennis tournament match Palmer Presbrey defeats T S Tailer, 19-21, 8-6, 6-1, 6-4, an 80 game 1st-round contest

Famous Weddings
1836 English novelist (Vanity Fair) William Makepeace Thackeray (25) marries Isabella Gethin Shawe (20)

1939 “Rebecca” actress Joan Fontaine (21) weds actor Brian Aherne (37)

1992 British “Police” singer Sting (41) weds British actress Trudie Styler (38) at an 11th century chapel in Wiltshire, England