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December 21-27, 1997
London: Boxing’s WBC champion Lennox Lewis (pictured) penned a contract for a $50 million (Dhs 183m) heavyweight unification fight scheduled for April 25, 1998 in Las Vegas, subject to acceptance by Evander Holyfield, the WBA and IBF champion (Dec 23). The talks later stalled.
Riyadh: In the Confederation Cup football final, Brazil’s deadly duo of Ronaldo and Romario pumped in three goals apiece as the world champions demolished Australia 6-0 (Dec 21). Czech Republic won the third place play-off against Uruguay 1-0. Ronaldo was voted Europe’s Footballer of the Year by the continent’s top sports writers in Paris.
Pune: A husband-and-wife team (Echchadli My Tahar and Akarachi Zahra) from Belgium created history when they won the men’s and women’s titles in the Pune Marathon (Dec 21).
Melbourne: In the first Test match of the world championship of cricket that started on Boxing Day, Australia’s Steve Waugh (96) waged another grim battle with Ricky Ponting (105) as the hosts recovered from 77 for four to reach 309 all out. South Africa were 94 for four at the end of day two (Dec 27).
Guwahati: Thanks to Robin Singh’s five-wicket haul and skipper Sachin Tendulkar’s 82, India finally shattered their Sri Lanka jinx and beat them by seven wickets in the first ODI (Dec 22).
The second match, at Indore’s under-prepared Nehru Stadium, was called off by ICC match referee Ahmad Ebrahim after just three overs to ensure the “safety of the players” (Dec 25).
Lahore: Controversial wicketkeeper Rashid Latif (pictured) was named Pakistan skipper for the tri-nation ODI series in Bangladesh after captain Wasim Akram pulled out following an injury (Dec 26).
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