SC – Hello Shane how are you?

SM – I’m good thanks how about yourself?

SC – I’m fine thank you very much, well start off with this interview then, firstly tell us about why they call you “Sugar” the nickname and about the beginning of your career and your defeat against Manny Pacquiao?

SM – Well first the beginning of my career was when I was 8 and at the age of 10 Sugar was the name given to me and have been boxing now for 30yrs and the thing with Pacquiao he’s a great fighter has a great punch, he’s a good a fighter and he’s a guy that I would love to be in the ring with.

SC – OK so we know that you have an incredible record of 55 fights, 56 wins and 39 of those being knockouts and we know what kind of fighter you are with immense boxing skills, how do you think you’ll do against Saul Canelo Alvarez on “Cinco De Mayo” on May 5th?

SC – I think I’m going to do very well against Alvarez, I’m a veteran fighter he’s 21 years old and he is a good strong young world champion and a lot of things will prevail in the match, I’m looking forward and very excited to be fighting that corner and it’s a GoldenBoy card and Mayweather and Cotto are on the card and that’s one that everyone shall watch.

SC – Tell us about the promotional aspect and tour you’ll be doing for this fight?

SM – I’m not sure about what’s going to happen with the promotional part of it but I’m getting myself prepared and getting myself ready to win another world title so that’s going to be my move to get myself together and my camp together and be specially prepared for this.

SC – Today we know that you’ve been in the WildCard Gym and you’ve visited that today, tell us about that how did that go?

SM – It was great I had my son down there he is getting ready for the nationals along with others and fight for the nationals and hopefully fight for the Olympics in 2012.

SC – What can you say about the recent comments that fans and boxing professionals are saying that you’re a bit too old to continue fighting and that you don’t stand a chance

SM – I say nothing I just let them say or believe what they want to say or think and I just let my fists do the talking.

SC – You’ve moved very well in your career and you’ve progressed highly and with regard to your training with Naazim Richardson tell us about him as a person and how you’ve been connecting and the moves you’ve been making and what kind of game plan if any have you made so far with regard to your fight for May 5th ?

SM – Well Naazim Richardson is a very intelligent man; he knows a lot of different things about fight skills and has a lot of logic thought so working with him is definitely a pleasure.  When I’m in the ring working with him we’re both students of the game of boxing.  He says the correct things and it always is true and I love working with Naazim even in the old days.

SC – That’s great what kind of things will you be looking forward to in this training camp with him for Canelo Alvarez and will you be retreating to Bear Mountain again?

SM – I’m not sure where I’ll be retreating again but Big Bear has always been good for training because of the seclusion but I will go where is best for me and my training, I’m not sure where, might be in Vegas, might be in Houston I don’t know yet.

SC – Tell us about your hardest obstacle in and out of the ring and something that you’ve really overcome?

SM – If you love something that much it’s not really an obstacle its part of my life, it’s what I like to do, it’s kinda my therapy. I get great therapy going to the ring working my magic, in the gym training, sparring, working with other guys, giving help, the whole thing and environment about boxing is what I love and there’s no obstacles that’s what I love to do.

SC – With regard to the fight it’s come about very quickly and were you expecting to be fighting again or were you thinking along the lines of retirement before this was offered to you?

SM – I was expecting to fight again I was looking forward to another fight and I’m not ready not to retire, I feel great I’m in great shape and condition and great health and very capable of being beating that guy in May.

SC – So you’re looking forward to this fight we can see that and what do you think your chances are against Alvarez and how do you think your performance is going to go?

SM – Well I think I’m going to do a spectacular job of beating Canelo Alvarez, I fight a lot of people it’s about how I do it, it’s like when I fought Margarito they were all surprised that I beat him, but the way I beat him.  I’m excited and looking forward to it and with beating him with passion and not really knowing when I fought Pacquiao and Mayweather I wasn’t really fighting 100% like I did with Magarito and when they see me fight 100% they’ll know too much what’s wrong with him to perform like this and why.

SC – So you’re sounding like a fighter here and not a retiree here so you don’t think you’ll be a “Hall Of Famer” yet then?

SM – I believe that I am going to be a “Hall Of Famer” but on my time, on my watch, not everybody’s else’s watch, I’m going to be training my son and other fighters and getting them involved and when I’m ready to retire I’ll let you know, right now I’ve got a few more years left.

SC – That sounds great Shane, give us a  few inspirational words for the young fans out there and boxing fans around the world, anything that you would like to say to them as they have been following you and watch your boxing and love you and the ladies love you tell us have you got a few words for them?

SM – Well I’m just happy, happy that I have the fans all over the world and they follow me and respect me and they love me and to have those fans, thank you being great fans and always keep your eyes on the prize for young fans always train hard and hopefully a lot of success will come to you and thank you again for being great fans.

SC – That’s great Shane good luck for you fight against Canelo Alvarez on May 5th and I hope your training camp goes successfully as well as your promotional work.

SM – Thank you I appreciate it.

The Citizens produced a fine comeback to secure a 2-1 first leg victory in Oporto, and their home form is outstanding.

They have won all 12 Premier League games in front of their own fans, including against the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal, and beat Bayern Munich and Villarreal at home in the group stage of their ill-fated Champions League campaign.

Roberto Mancini’s man have also scored 37 in 12 Premier League games and five in three home Champions League ties, and have a whole host of players capable of finding the net.

Sergio Aguero, who scored the first leg winner, is in red-hot form and has netted in two of his last three appearances.

He is a top priced 19/4 with BetVictor to score first and that makes plenty of appeal.

However an even more appealing wager is form him to net anytime at 5/4 with the dame form and also Boylesports. That looks cracking value given that Ladbrokes are as short as 4/6.

The gelding was poorly ridden in a race won by the trailblazing Megalala, but finished with a real rattle to finish third (beaten just 1 1/2 lengths) having allowed the leader too much rope.

Tom McLaughlin totally misjudged the ride, and there is no doubt in my mind that the horse would have won had he made his move earlier and kept tabs on the pacesetters.

Before that effort Peter Hiatt’s charge had gone into my notebook as a sure fire future winner when staying on well under tender handling to finish a never nearer five length 6th of 12 to Prince of Burma at this track.

The handicapper has certainly given him a huge chance off a career-low mark of 67, judge on those two efforts.

He was rated 74 when winning as a juvenile for David Lanigan and went on to finish fourth to the very useful Pisco Sour in a Windsor handicap off a mark of 80.

That gives him every chance from a handicapping perspective, and providing his jockey does not overdue the waiting tactics he must take all the beating.

Daily Sport recommended bet: 4pts win Menadati (4/1 bet365 –  BOG)

Nick Williams’ eight-year-old is a consistent sort who scored twice last season.

The second of those wins came over today’s course and distance where he made all to win unchallenged by 10 lengths from Timpo off 98, and he went on to finish a highly creditable second on his next start despite being whacked up to 109 by the assessor.

He then spent 158 days on the sidelines, and ran a shocker on his first two starts back before showing a bit more promise at Wincanton back in December before putting in a much improved effort last time out.

That run came at Huntingdon and he raced strongly at the head of affairs before being headed two out and being unable to find any extra.

It was an effort which suggested he was nearing his peak, and having been dropped a further 2lbs by the handicapper he is now back down to 98.

That gives him a terrific chance from a handicapping perspective, and for a horse that has his ideal conditions and course winning form he looks a solid punt at 4/1 in a contest where a line can be put through the majority of his rivals.

At the odds on offer he rates the best bet on the card.

Daily Sport recommended bet: 4pts win Ere Alfie (4/1 generally available – use BOG firms)

The gelding won 2 of his 4 starts as a juvenile hurdler in France last year for Guillaume Macaire, and could be potentially thrown-in off a mark of 122.

He last scored in good style back in July, and although he has an absence to overcome he has the scope and potential to be head and shoulders above his rivals if fit and ready to go on his first start for Venetia Williams.

The son of Robin Des Champs is clearly highly regarded as he holds an entry in next month’s Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and his French form suggests that he is more than capable of landing this class 3 contest.

With the favourite and main danger Mauritino now a non-runner, he looks sure to take all the beating and at 6/1 rates an each-way steal in a race lacking any real strength in depth.

Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Special Robon (6/1 generally available – use BOG firms)

The five-year-old landed a monster gamble on his reappearance at Cheltenham when shrugging off a six month absence to win a 23 runner conditionals handicap over 2m 5f.

He led at the fourth before shooting clear and held an 8 length lead when making a bad mistake at the last. however he dug deep and found plenty to hold on by a head and in my book was value for far more than the winning margin.

Plenty of those who finished behind that day have subsequently come out and won and the form looks strong.

He was then heavily backed to follow up at Ascot but the drop back in trip to 2m went against him and he went down by just over 2 lengths to the improving Featherbed Lane.

The gelding then flopped when last seen in the Lanzarote at Kempton over the Christmas period, but something was clearly amiss that day as he was never travelling well or dominating as he likes to at the head of affairs.

I am inclined to put a line through that effort as it was certainly not his true running, and if it was a one off then he has every chance in this contest off a mark of 128.

He is only 6lb higher than when scoring at Cheltenham, and today’s 3m trip should suit him down to the ground.

With Tom Scudamore in the saddle, and the Pipe team flying everything looks in place for a huge run and on a track which will suit his running style he looks the one they all have to beat.

Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Decoy (11/1 Boylesports – BOG, 1/4 odds 1,2,3,4)

David Pipe’s gelding is a tricky customer who last tasted success back in November 2008 when scoring from a mark of 149 and is now running off just 137.

Since then he has been very lightly raced, but he has performed with great credit in some ultra competitive handicaps and looked better than ever last year when runner-up in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival and then occupying the same position behind Poker De Sivola in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Those were cracking efforts by the 11-year-old and he is on the same mark as he was in the Kim Muir and just 1lb higher than his run in the 365.

That gives him a tremendous chance from a handicapping perspective, and although he failed to fire on his seasonal reappearance at Warwick this is by far the easiest opportunity he has faced for a long time and he can be expected to leave that effort well behind.

He was priced up at 6s first thing, but that has all been snapped up and 9/2 is the best left in the village.

However that still looks value, and he should take the world of beating.

Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts win Faasel (9/2 generally available – use BOG firms)

Chisora said “Following the extensive media coverage that my WBC World Heavyweight title challenge against Vitali Klitschko in Munich at the weekend has attracted, I feel I must wholeheartedly apologise for my part in the regrettable scenes both before and after what was to be the biggest night of my career.”

Both Haye and Chisora are now facing possible charges from German prosecutors which if convicted could land them in jail.

As much as we all hated to see 2 well know sporting personalities acting in such a shameful manor, the events of last Saturday night have made a possible clash in the ring between Chisora and Haye one that a lot of the public now want to see. The bookies have jumped on the bandwagon too with William Hill offering odds of 4/11 Haye and 2/1 Chisora while Ladbrokes are offering 4/9 Haye and 7/4 Chisora.

Daily Sport says – If Saturday night was anything to go by god help us in the build up to such a fight.

Gerber a hard hitter is hoping to be the next pride of Germany and bring the Heavyweight title home to Deutschland during his career.

Edmund Gerber is happy with his progress under the banner of Sauerland Event. ”I cannot complain – I am having a good camp leading up to this bout, with a coach who always shows me how to get better. I told the press last year that I want bigger challenges in 2012 and Mazikin is a good start – I want to beat him. Afterwards we can talk about my next opponent”, the 23-year old Gerber says.

Daily Sport says – Having seen Gerber in action before is definately one to watch on the Heavyweight scene oover the coming year.

The Italian side have risen from the ashes following bankruptcy in 2004, and in less  than eight years have gone from Italy’s third division to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Water Mazzarri’s side emerged -  along with Bayern Munich – from the so-called Group of Death which also included Premier League leaders Manchester City and Villarreal.

No team has come so far, so quickly, In Italy and they have come through some big games in style this season with victories over City, Milan and Inter, as well as drawing with Bayern Munich and Juventus.

They also come into this on the back of thrashing Fiorentina 3-0 away and are a side in terrific shape and on a high.

The same cannot be said of Chelsea who have looked very lack-lustre of late.

They were lucky to escape with a 3-0 draw against Man united when throwing away a 3-0 lead, got comprehensively beaten by Everton at Goodison, and played very poorly in a 1-1 draw at Birmingham in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Their manager Andres Villas-Boas is a man under pressure, and his team certainly aren’t putting in the type of performances that will save him from the axe.

The Blues have won just three of their six Champions League matches this season despite having taken the lead in all six games, and a shocking stat is that there only win in10 European away matches on Italian soil came against Lazio back in November.

They have also won none of their last four away games in this competition, and on current form that is not going to change tonight.

I think Napoli are rock-solid favourites for this, and at 7/5 with Paddy Power and Hills they look incredible value.

The advice is to snap it up while it lasts.