seen sport magazine issue no. 3

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ISSUE NO. 3

FORMULA 1 | RACING METRO | MARCOS MAIDANA | JOHN HATHAWAY | MLB WORLD SERIES

AMIR KHAN

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www.seensportmagazine.com

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PublisherCleva Media+44 (0)208 133 8696 www.seensportmagazine.com

Editor - Karen [email protected]

Picture Editor - Eoin [email protected]

Art Director - Karen Reid

Advertising [email protected]

Contact Cleva Media for all image licensing requests:[email protected]

We are happy to bring a great issue featuring lots of in depth interviews, stunning independent photography from around the world and an alternative look at the sporting world.

Our cover story is Amir “King” Khan, a young man who has had to overcome adversity and continues to prove his critics wrong with a combination of sublime natural talent and sheer determination to succeed. It was really refreshing to get an honest opinion on his career and capture photos of the training methods that have helped the WBA Light Welterweight champion achieve so much success. And in the red corner Marcos Maidana has his sights set on destroying Amir Khan’s dreams. Our regular contributor, Alexis Cuarezma, delivered another fantastic reportage feature on the Argentine power puncher, who promises an all action fight when the two fighters collide on December 11th. We took a trip to Paris to witness the emergence of a new force in French rugby, Racing Metro ahead of their derby clash with fierce rivals Stade Francais and get the low down on their eccentric history, meeting some of the key players that are responsible for the club’s reversal in fortunes. At last the Formula One season lived up to the hype, our photo feature illustrates some the best images from a truly memorable season and we finish off this packed issue with the Major League Baseball World series and special focus on the UFC Welterweight contender John “The Hitman” Hathaway.

We would like to thank everybody who helped make this issue possible and we look forward to bringing you issue 4 of SEEN in the New Year! Wishing you all a great end to the year.SEEN Team

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04 FORMULA 1Photo review of one of the most memorable F1 seasons in recent history

25 RACING METRO 92 An insightful feature on the eccentric Parisian rugby club who are making waves in the french league and have the eye on European glory in the Heineken Cup.

39 AMIR KHANInside the training camp of WBA Light Welter-weight Champion, Amir Khan, as he prepares for battle with his most dangerous opponent to date.

49 MARCOS MAIDANA

Fighting out of Buenos Aires, Argentina Marcos Maidana promises to shock the world and snatch the title away from Amir Khan.

53 MLB WORLD SERIES 2010

A reportage feature following a historic 4-1 victory for the San Francisco Kings against the Texas Rangers in the MLB World Series 2010.

67 JOHN HATHAWAYAn interview and photo feature following the rise of UFC star and documenting his shock defeat to Mike Pyle at UFC 120.

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FORMULA 1

An overhead view of Fernando Alonso (ESP, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro) during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore

In what turned out to be a special F1 season, there has been much debate as to whether this year’s driver’s championship was the best ever. Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel dramatically clinched the title in the final race at the stunning Abu Dhabi circuit leaving his team mate Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and defending champion Jenson Button kicking themselves for blowing their chances.

At the age of 23, Sebastien Vettel becomes the youngest driver to win the championship and many are predicting he could follow in the footsteps of his countryman Michael Schumacher, who himself failed to make an impression upon his return to F1. We have chosen a selection of images from the F1 2010 season taken by our contributors Andrew Hone and Jurgen Tapp.

An overhead view of Fernando Alonso (ESP, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro) during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore

An ariel view of Lewis Hamilton (GBR, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) testing his car in the garage before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain.

Lewis Hamilton (GBR, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) is stalked by photographers before the F1 Grand Prix of Canada.

Michael Schumacher ( GER, Mercedes GP ) during testing before the F1 World Championship 2010, Barcelona, Spain.

Michael Schumacher (GER, Mercedes GP Petronas) reflects whilst in the pit lane before the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain

Jenson Button (GBR, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) at the F1 Grand Prix of Japan

Mark Webber (AUS, Red Bull) celebrates winning the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain

Felipe Massa (BRA, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro) and Fernando Alonso (ESP, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro) compete during the GP of Europe in Valencia.

Mark Webber (AUS, Red Bull) celebrates winning the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain

01 Jenson Button (GBR, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes), 05 Sebastian Vettel (GER, Red Bull Racing), 02 Lewis Hamilton (GBR, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) at the GP of Abu Dhabi

RACING METRO

RACING REVOLUTIONWhen billionaire property tycoon ,Jacky lorenzetti, bought a maJority share in racing metro in 2006 he made his intentions knoWn. there Was a neW era beginning in French rugby and he Was determined to build a team to rival not only their parisian neighbours, stade Francais (Who under the oWnership oF max guazzini had enJoyed maJor success throughout the last decade), but a team that could compete With the best teams in France and europe.

Racing-Métro 92 was founded in 2001 when former Racing Club De France players and owners of the Eden Park fashion label, Frank Mesnel, Jean-Baptiste Lafond, Eric Blanc, Yvon Rousset and Philippe Guillard agreed a merger with US Métro, the sports association of the Paris transport system. Before the merger Racing Club De France had a long and successful record, having won the first ever Bouclier du Brennus in 1892 against Stade Francais and in the years that followed they were renowned for their eccentricity and playing with great flair. The last golden era for the club was in the 1980’s and spear headed by Franck Mesnel and his now business partners who made up the backbone of the team. They were famously branded “Le show bizz” following numerous pranks they played on rival teams such as wearing beret’s during a match with Biarritz, pink bow ties against Toulon in the 1987 final and probably their most audacious prank was drinking champagne on the pitch at half time of the1990 Final against Agen, served to them by their

team mate Yvon Rousset who dressed as a butler. As the fans and rival team looked on in bewilderment, the racing men simply downed their bubbly and proceeded to win what would be their last French championship to date. As their success dwindled over the next decade “Le Show Bizz gang” tried to rekindle the spirit and achievement of Racing to no avail, until Jacky Lorenzetti invested in the club and laid out his blue print to success. When he arrived the club languished in the Pro Division 2. Lorenzetti set clear goals for the club to gain promotion to the Top 14 in 2008 and qualify for the Heineken Cup by 2012. Their first goal was achieved in 2009 after failing at the first attempt. Despite not gaining promotion in the first year Jacky Lorenzetti remained philosophical explaining; “Montois deserved their victory I’m not sure we were ready, especially in terms of structure. In spirit, I am proud of the legacy of racing. I want to keep this “Glossary attitude” which made its success, particularly through the values of Olympyism and training.”

Under the guidance of Pierre Berbezier Racing Metro were promoted the next year and went on to qualify for this year’s Heineken Cup ahead of schedule. They have recruited some of the best young talent including players such as Benjamin Fall, Juan-Martin Hernandez, Francois Steyn, Jonathan Wisnieski and fused this with the experience of Sebastien Chabal, Mirco Bergamasco and former French Captain Lionel Nallet amongst others. The team have evolved this year into serious title contenders and their success on the pitch is matched by their president’s ambition to secure the financial future of the club by building a spectacular new stadium at La Defense called simply, Arena 92."My project for Racing-Métro 92 is based on the construction of the stadium. I want the club to be financially independent of his patron, being the owner of the stadium which he derives most of its revenues." "In the present context, we will invest 200 million euros, create permanent jobs, create business and wealth, to live in La Defense at times when it's a no man's land."In September four architects were short listed by Racing Metro to submit their designs for the new stadium and enter into constructive dialogue with the club. At the end of the year one architect will be chosen to design the new stadium and an application for planning permission will be submitted with the proposed date for the project to be completed by 2014, when it is hoped that Racing Metro will play their first match at their new home - Arena 92.Having restructured their communication and marketing departments, Jacky Lorenzetti's plan is already coming to fruition and based upon the basic business principles that he applies to his real estate empire, which has brought him so much success, rival clubs such as Stade Toulousain, Stade Francais and new kids on the block, Toulon, can only look and watch in awe as the Racing Metro revolution continues to gain momentum at a rapid rate. The tide has turned in French rugby, much in the same way that the landscape of football changed in recent years with an influx of rich investors buying into Premier League clubs. The Top 14 has seen a shift in a similar direction and Jacky Lorenzetti is not the first and he will definitely not be the last multi millionaire to invest in a Top 14 club, but what sets him apart from his rivals is his impeccable business acumen and attention to detail in every aspect of building a team and club that can sustain success.

The new season has been successful so far and Racing Metro have proven that they can compete with the elite teams in France and Europe and with speculation in the media that Racing are looking at recruiting some big names such as Thierry Dusuatoir, Patricio Albacete and Census Johnston all of whom currently play for European champions Stade Toulousain, it looks like Racing Metro's ambition and desire to win to bolster their first French title in over 20 years might not be that far away. On December 4th at Stade Yves du Manoir, Racing Metro will take on their oldest rivals Stade Francais in a battle to secure bragging rights in Paris. A win for Racing Metro could be the pivotal point in this years race to win the Bouclier du Brennus and having been influential in returning the good times to their loyal fans, Jacky Lorenzetti’s message for the future is clear, when asked “if you had a dream for Racing that you would like to see happen during your presidency, what would it be?” Jacky Lorenzetti simply replied; "I share the same dream of our supporters”.

Text & Photography by Eoin Mundow

Quotes courtesy of Racing Metro

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FACT: Played alongside his brother for Stade Francais and appeared on the cover and in the 2004 edition of ‘Les Dieux du Stade’, a risqué calendar in which French rugby players pose nude.

i watched stade Francais last season and they appear to have lost their way, do you feel that racing is now the number one team in paris? Stade Francais with Max Guazzini did enormous things for rugby in general and for world rugby. He was the first person to put 80,000 people in a stadium to watch a championship match and he promoted the club in a unique way with the jersey, the pink colour and other things. He got people to talk about rugby all over and I think this is a great thing. However, maybe he didn’t do enough work around the club to build the right infrastructure. To be successful you have to have a good training ground, a gym all in the same location. We can’t go left or right or not know where we are training every week. He did many great things for rugby and for the clubs but he did not build the facilities, but I have to thank Max all my life for my experiences at Stade Francais. Now at Racing Metro I find all the facilities in the same place where I can go to the gym, eat together with the players, play cards, talk, watch television. We arrive at 9am and leave at 2 or 3pm, but the im-portant thing is we stay together. We train together, we eat together, we go to the gym together and I think this is very important for the spirit of the team. at stade Francais it was more about the spectacle? No, the spirit was very good when I arrived at Stade Francais and I think we lost a little in the last two seasons. I don’t know why, maybe the club changed a little bit. It was not the same as 2003, 2004, 2005; it was a little bit strange what happened. stade Francais against racing metro (formerly club racing) is one of the oldest rivalries; do you think this will be a special match between the two teams from paris? I think it is a special match. They are two teams that have history, Racing team is now young because they arrived in the Top 14 two years ago and Stade Francais arrived in 1998, but both teams want to show who is the best team in Paris. Like all the derby matches like Biarritz v Bayonne, Toulouse v Castres it has the same ambience. I think during the week leading up to the match the atmosphere will be magic! having played top 14 rugby for 8 years would you say it is the best league in europe? I think the Top 14 is very competitive, every week

Why did you leave stade Francais and did you feel it was a good opportunity to play for racing metro? At Stade Francais I had one more season on my contract. I asked Stade Francais what they wanted to do with me beyond the World Cup and they said that they could not offer anything more than one year. Racing Metro proposed a contract of three years and I told Stade Francais that “I have a team that wants me for three years” they said “You are free to do what you want, we can’t stop you, if you want to leave you can leave.” At 27 years old it was important to have a contract for three years and as I only had one year with Stade Francais and didn’t know what they wanted to do with me, I decided to leave for Racing. But this is not the only reason because at Racing Metro I am reunited with the old coach of the Italian national team Pierre Berbezier. I know many players at Racing and last season they showed that they want to rise to the top level. After seven years it was not easy to leave Stade Francais. having played under berbezier for italy, did this help influence your decision in any way? He is the first trainer that gave me the confidence to play centre. When I arrived at Stade Francais after the World Cup in 2003, in which I played on the wing, Stade Francais chose to play me on the wing, which is not my best position. I like it and now I understand, but in 2003 I had never played on the wing before so in my first season I had some problems during matches and my first season there was not very good.I asked to change position at Stade Francais and when Berbezier arrived in Italy with Jean-Philippe Cariat I asked about this possibility when Alessandro Stoica was injured and in the Six Nations of 2006 I had my best tournament and was chosen as one of the top 15 players of the Six Nations. I proved that I could play in this position and Pierre Berbezier and Jean-Philippe Cariat gave me the opportunity to express myself on the pitch.

RACING METRO’S MIRCO BERGAMASCO GIVES HIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF PARISIAN RUGBY

I continue to train and if I get the chance kick for Italy or a club I am happy to do this. I don’t think about whom I kick against, whether it is Parra, Wilkinson or O’Gara. I just want to understand that I can reach a certain level. you have posed many times i understand for the famous stade Francais calender, yourself and mauro your brother. is it good fun, i hear some of the players are quite embarrassed? Yes we are both in the calendar and for me it is the seventh time, in 2004 I was on the cover. At the beginning some of the players are embarrassed because it is not easy to keep yourself awake in front of the camera, this is true, but when you understand that around you there are only professional people like the photographer, make up artists and so on, you can relax. Although it is a strange thing that you are doing, then you realise you are working with professionals and it is easy to put yourself in this position for the photos. Afterwards it’s amazing (when you see the calendar), because it’s so different to what you do in the day. It’s not the same as training, doing an interview, it’s just fun! So, perhaps after your rugby career is finished you would consider becoming a singer? Ha ha… (Laughs). Oh no, I cannot sing very well. I have other projects but not a singer, no (laughs).

you play a team that can put you in trouble. You can lose away or at home and I think with all the international players that have come to play in the Top 14 the level has gone up. However, personally I have only ever played in the French league, not the Celtic league or others. We can see that last year in the Heineken Cup Final both teams were French, but I don’t know. The season is very long in France and with international matches and the Heineken Cup it is very hard for the players to maintain themselves. last year in the six nations you were chosen to take penalties for italy against england and we discovered you had a hidden talent as you managed to convert more penalties than your rival on that day Jonny Wilkinson, did you give him any advice when he returned to toulon? Ha, ha, ha (Laughs)…. For me at the moment I don’t have many possibilities to kick penalties for the Italy team. During that match I had 4 or 5 kicks in the match and Wilkinson had 9 or 10 possibilities to kick, you can’t compare. Wilkinson has shown that he can kick 30 points easily in a match and me I have never done this, so I can’t say I’m better. I was happy, not because I kicked more points than Wilkinson or my percentage was better. I was happy because I missed one and converted four others, so the important thing was this for me. I began to hit the post, so I have many years of work before I arrive at the level of Wilkinson. Interview & Photography by Eoin Mundow

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FACT: The youngest player to win the World Cup when he played in the 2007 Final for South Africa against England and holds the record for being the only player to convert three penalties in a test match from his own half.

LIONEL NALLET

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FACT: Currently the second highest scoring player in the Top 14, just behind Jonny Wilkinson and was recently chosen to make his debut for France, but unfortunately had to withdraw with an injury.

AGE: 34 POSITION: Lock

FACT: The former French captain forms an ominous partnership with his old Bourgoin team mate Sebastien Chabal. Both players joined Racing Metro after they gained promotion to the Top 14 in 2009.

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FACT: Previously played for Stade Francais and in 2007 was one of the five candidates chosen by the IRB for the International Player of the Year award and also voted player of the year in France.


FACT: The former French captain forms an ominous partnership with his old Bourgoin team mate Sebastien Chabal. Both players joined Racing Metro after they gained promotion to the Top 14 in 2009.

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FACT: He is one of the most popular sportsmen in France and affectionately named “The Caveman” by fans around the World. He is a key member of the Racing Metro revival. Reportedly the highest rugby player in the World.

AMIR KHAN

“I THINK I HAVE A SHOT TO KNOCK OUT ANYONE IF I HIT THEM CLEAN.”

“I THINK I HAVE A SHOT TO KNOCK OUT ANYONE IF I HIT THEM CLEAN.”

On December 11th in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Casino, Britain's Amir Khan will face possibly the toughest test of his pro career when he will defend his WBA Light Welterweight title against the renowned knockout artist, Marcos Maidana Argentina. We went behind the scenes to witness the sacrifice that Amir Khan has made in order succeed in his quest to become the pound for pound best fighter in the world and also got a unique insight into the training methods and mentoring by Manny Pacquiao, Alex Ariza, Freddie Roach and his family that have helped the Olympic silver medalist grow both as a fighter and a man.

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Having developed your defence, something you have always possessed is power. Do you think that many fighters outside the UK including your next opponent Maidana, who has been knocked down several times by Victor Ortiz, underestimate your power? Exactly! I think I go into this fight with the most power. I think I have a shot to knock out anyone if I hit them clean. In the Malignaggi fight, you know I had him going a few times but the guy was just running I couldn’t catch him. But with Maidana he is going to come onto the shots and when you have someone who wants to fight you as well, it just makes the fight more exciting.

People can think what they want, but they will see a totally different Amir Khan in this fight and a different style, a better style.

Devon Alexander the current IBF Light Welterweight struggled against Andreas Kotelnik and Maidana lost a controversial split decision to him. Do you think this illustrates how decisive your win against Kotelnik was? You know I don’t really say anything, but you look at the guys they are fighting and the way they beat their opponents and the way in which I beat my opponents, I think that just says it all. I just let the boxing fans make that decision. But I think deep down if you look at the way I beat people up and I finish off fighters, I don’t think anyone does it the way I do it. There will be a lot of people who will question that, but I’m sure after this fight with Maidana I will shut a lot of critics up.

Interview by Eoin Mundow

Photography by Alexis Cuarezma

You appeared to gain a lot of confidence from the fight against Marco Antonio Barrera. Some people will say that Barrera was an old fighter, but is still a big name. He has a similar style to your next opponent, did this fight help in perfecting your style?

He’s a legend (Barrera); you know it’s great to have name like that on your record. You know people can talk all they want, but the thing is Maidana is a tough guy who is coming to beat me but time will tell. I know that after I beat Maidana people will still criticise me and say he was not as good as everyone said he was. But maybe that’s just how I make my opponents look, ordinary. In this game you are always going to have critics, but you just have to stay strong and stay focused.

I chatted with Alex Ariza and he explained that his training methods are brutal. Was it a shock to your system when you started working with him?

It was a shock to my system because we train so hard. But the harder you train outside the ring the easier it is inside the ring. You know I get pushed to the limits, but working with Alex and Freddie makes me a better fighter.

What are some of the most bizarre exercise’s you do? I hear the ice cold bath is one of them and of course we have seen you workout with the baseball bat?

Yeah, we do a lot of conditioning work, it might look easy but when you put it all together it’s very, very hard. It not only works you physically but mentally as well and it makes you want to grit your teeth and carry on, you don’t want to give up. I think mentally if you can do the training that we do then in a boxing fight it’s going to be much easier.

You obviously have a lot of respect for both Alex and Freddie, you have to have 100% trust in them? I trust Alex and I trust Freddie and the training we do, I trust every little bit of it. It has worked for Manny Pacquaio and I’m sure it’s going to work for me. It’s worked for me since I joined them because I’ve become a World Champion and become a better fighter, so I just keep doing what they tell me to do, because I know it’s working.

When I spoke Alex Ariza I told him you remind me quite a lot of Thomas Hearns with great boxing skills,

speed and a powerful right hand. Alex said you have a lot of machismo, if someone pushes you can get drawn into a fight. Is that something you’re trying to change?

Sure, you know you don’t want to fight with you’re heart, I know the heart is there. You know you’re going to come to some fights in the twelfth round and you might need to pull it out, turn the fight around and I know I’ve got that in me, I’ve got that big heart. You know most fighters don’t have that in them they just have skills, they don’t have the heart to fight and when it comes down to fighting they just get nervous and shy away. But with me I’ve got the power, the speed and the heart, I just want to fight, I just want to win!

Manny put on a spectacular performance on the weekend by totally dominating a much large Antonio Margarito. Does it give you extra confidence training with such a prolific boxer?

Definitely. Training with Manny Pacquiao is an honour and I think what he’s done in the sport won’t ever be seen again. Becoming an eight-division world champion and moving up from 108 lbs to 151 lbs is a big jump. But yeah it’s good for your confidence knowing that you are working with someone like him who won convincingly against a guy (Antonio Margarito) who has a very similar style to the guy I’m fighting. You know I’m going to use the same tactics that Manny used and I think it just shows that Freddie Roach our trainer, the skills and tactics he sets out for the fighters is the right move because he gives you exactly the right instructions.

So Freddie will switch things up? You have a plan A, B, C and D when you face Maidana?

That’s right, Freddie knows exactly what we have to do. Freddie knows what moves to do and when to make it in the fight, so we know exactly how to beat this guy Maidana. Maidana is going to be a tough guy, Maidana is going to be like Margarito, stood in front of me and he’s going to take a lot of punishment. For him it’s a big opportunity and for me it’s a big opportunity because I want to keep hold of my belt, I want to make a big name for myself in America. I don’t only want to win this fight but I want to win it in good style. I hear that you’re sparring went really with Manny Pacquiao. Freddie even said you got the better of him in a couple of the sessions.

The previous time you sparred was two years ago?

The first time we sparred was two years ago and then just now, so there was a big gap between. But it just shows how I’ve come on and how much I I’ve progressed under Freddie Roach and training along Manny Pacquiao has made me a better fighter.

How would you assess these sparring sessions? Does it surprise you how much you have come on since you joined Freddie and has it been a slow process?

Definitely I see a big difference myself, how much I’ve got stronger, how skillful I’ve become and I see it all myself and it just gives you confidence that you are doing the right things.

So it’s impossible that you would face Manny in the future as you both train with Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza, is that right? I would never fight Manny as we have the same trainers, we train together that fight will never happen. But it’s just an honour, it’s great to just spend time with him and train with him, spar with him because Manny is

just one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound. If I can do half of what Manny Pacquiao has done then I’m happy with that.

Someone who has had their critics is Floyd Mayweather do you know him well?

I know Floyd and he’s a nice guy, totally different to the one we see on TV. He’s very down to earth guy really when we’ve met he’s been cool.

It’s well documented that negotiations to make a fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao appear to have come to a dead end. Now there is talk of you fighting Floyd in the future? Yeah, I think if that fight was going to happen it would happen in about 12 months time. I want to unify this division, I want to get Maidana out the way and then fight the winner out of Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, which will make me the unified champion at Light Welterweight. Then I would like to move up a division and fight Floyd. I think that would work out well timing wise and if you want to be the best fighter in the world you have to

fight the best in the world and I think it’s a fight people want to see. Because you know, Ricky Hatton failed when he fought for the pound for pound title and I’m sure that I can go there and become the pound for pound fighter in the world, the best fighter and bring that title back to England.”

I was at the Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jnr fight and saw that Freddie Roach appears to have nearly perfected a style in which to beat Mayweather. On that night Oscar De La Hoya who was in the twilight of his career couldn’t fulfil what Freddie had set out for him to do. If and when you fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr would you follow a similar game plan? And do you think you would be successful?

That’s right, luckily being in my peak, I’ll be stronger, I’ll be in the best shape ever. Being with Freddie, but being younger than De La Hoya and having Alex Ariza who will get me conditioned for that fight, we would be ready for it. But first I need to concentrate on the fights I have ahead of me and slowly the bigger fights will come and that’s why I want to fight Maidana, because after I beat him the big fights will follow.”

There was much debate in the UK press as to why your brother Haroon was not picked for the UK team. However, now he is boxing for Pakistan do you think it’s a positive thing for him not to fight for the UK and build his career in a different way to you so there are not so many comparisons?

First of all Haroon really wanted to go there, to the Commonwealth games, it was an experience thing, regardless if he won a medal or didn’t win a medal. The guy the UK sent, Haroon would beat him any day, all day long.

In a way it makes the country, the selectors look bad because they’re not doing their job right. I read an article where the selectors said that they have got a lot of fighters in the finals, you know well done to those guys, but not in the 52 kg division, those guys were a lot heavier.

I think that is one of the reasons why I turned professional, because in this game especially the amateurs, you know you’re looked over a lot and there are fighters that have turned professional because they have been looked over and I think Haroon is one of them and that’s why I moved to the professional game. Straight after the Olympic games, a year after I

started to see the politics kick in and I thought, you know what I’ve just come back from the Olympics after winning a medal and these guys are not showing their support towards me so I thought forget about it.

That’s the reason I turned professional, but you know there is great talent in England, but if England want to win medals at the 2012 Olympics, where it means something, they need to pick the right fighters, they need to be fair. But I think it’s a wake up call to them with not picking Haroon.

Outside the ring you have done a lot of work for charity in the UK and more recently in Pakistan after the country was devastated by floods. What was it like when you were in Pakistan?

It was a good thing for me to go there and build awareness because not many people were doing that and I think it died off. You know 80 Million people were affected and lots of people went missing, so I just wanted to go there and show my support and get people to donate. You know I can use my status to help others and maybe if people see me doing it they will think of doing it themselves. Finally do you have any message for your opponent Marcos Maidana?

“I hope he trains hard because it’s the toughest fight he will ever be in. You know I’m training hard and I’m sure the best man will win the fight. I let my fists do the talking, I’m not gonna give too much away, I’ll just be ready on the night.”


Photography by Alexis Cuarezma

Marcos Maidana has been chasing a fight with Amir Khan for sometime. After much wrangling and negotiations the big punching Argentine will finally get his chance to prove that he is a force to be reckoned with in the Light Welterweight division. Having broken through into the mainstream after his thrilling battle with the highly touted Goldenboy prospect Victor Ortiz, Maidana, who overcame two knockdowns to batter his opponent into submission is promising that Amir Khan will suffer the same consequences.The fighters have one common opponent in Andreas Kotelnik. Maidana lost a controversial split decision in Germany to the then WBA Light Welterweight champion, whilst Amir Khan convincingly out boxed Kotelnik to claim an easy points win and more importantly the title that will be on the line.

MARCOS MAIDANA

“I feLT AMIr WAs scAred Of Me BecAuse He WAsn’T GIVInG Me THe OppOrTunITy TO fIGHT HIM. IT’s Been ALMOsT A yeAr And A HALf sInce I WOn THe InTerIM TITLe. I’M excITed THAT We’re GOInG TO fIGHT. yOu cAn sAy He’s THe fAVOrITe And I’M THe underdOG, BuT I dOn’T feeL THAT WAy. I feeL cALM And prepAred And KnOW I WILL WIn.”

MLB WORLD SERIES 2010

A general field level view at dusk between a game between the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants in Game Two at AT&T Park, October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The Giants defeated the Rangers 9 to 0.

They started out as a 20-1 outside bet to win the MLB World Series, but the San Francisco Giants stunned the Texas Rangers by beating them 4-1 and claiming their first title since leaving their ancestral home in New York. Independent sports photographer and SEEN Sport contributor Rob Tringali captured the ambiance surrounding one of America’s most celebrated sporting events.

A general field level view at dusk between a game between the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants in Game Two at AT&T Park, October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The Giants defeated the Rangers 9 to 0.

Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers looks on against the San Francisco Giants in Game Two at AT&T Park on October 28, 2010 in San Francisco, California. The Giants defeated the Rangers 9 to 0.

Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers lets go of his bat into the stands against the San Francisco Giants in Game Five at Rangers Ballpark, October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Giants defeated the Rangers 3 to 1 and win the Series four games to one.

Fans of the San Francisco Giants celebrate in the bleachers as a water canon shoots out after a home run by Juan Uribe in the 5th inning against the Texas Rangers in Game One at AT&T Park, October 27, 2010 in San Francisco, California.

Elvis Andrus #1 of the Texas Rangers sits in the dugout alone after being defeated by the San Francisco Giants in Game Five at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, October 31, 2010.

Mitch Moreland #18 of the Texas Rangers is greeted in the dugout by his teammates after hitting a three run home run in the 2nd inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game Three at Rangers Ballpark, October 30, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers defeated the Giants 4 to 2.

Cody Ross #13 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates with champagne in the locker room after defeating the Texas Rangers in Game Five at Rangers Ballpark, November 1, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Giants defeated the Rangers 3 to 1 and win the Series four games to one.

Buster Posey #26 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates by holding up the World Series Trophy after defeating the Texas Rangers in Game Five at Rangers Ballpark, October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

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UFC JOHN HATHAWAY

John Hathaway burst into the mainstream when stunned the UFC world and beat Diego Sanchez in their welterweight contest at UFC

114 in Las Vegas. His aggressive style has won him many admirers in America and a new fan base in the UK. In a welterweight division packed with talented fighters including the great George St. Pierre, Hathaway had set his sights on fighting the top contenders in the division within the next 18 months, with his ultimate goal being to win the welterweight world title. We caught up with John Hathaway to discuss his aspirations for the future and captured all the action from his shock defeat to renowned submission artist John Pyle at UFC 120.

HATHAWAY LOSES TO PYLE ON POINTS AFTER A GRUELLING THREE ROUND BATTLE AT UFC 120

You seem to be quite a down to earth guy and very focused. What is your main ambition in MMA?

Definitely to be ranked at number one and keep competing and climbing the ladder until I feel ready to compete at the top and go for the belt in the UFC division. Obviously I still think that it’s about a year to a year and a half away. I’m only 23 and learning so much, each camp I’m just improving and coming out as a new competitor. Do you have any pressure from promoters or managers to take a title shot early should the possibility arise or would you prefer to take your time and make sure you’re ready for a title shot?

Definitely I would have to ready for a title shot, but it would be something my managers and coaches would talk about, plan out and see where we are. It would definitely take a lot of planning to prepare for this but nothing is impossible. You standout fight was your win over Diego Sanchez, a fight you were not expected to win. How satisfying was it to go out to Las Vegas and win, making a name for yourself? And were the fans receptive to you out there?

I definitely think I won a lot of fans through that fight and that performance and it was great to compete in Vegas. It was my first time competing in America and it really was a good experience and with the result and coming out with a win it made me really happy. Do you think the victory against Diego Sanchez changed a lot of people’s perceptions about you as a fighter?

Definitely, I think I got to show more of myself, it was a three rounder. I got show more of my stand up performance and show that defence is not just me going for take downs and being on top and trying to finish people that way. At 6’2 you are a big Welterweight will you look to move up to Middleweight?

For now I have a great dietician in my area so I can make the weight fairly easily. Welterweight is the place for me at the moment, it’s my division that I want to improve in and dominate hopefully. Welterweight is definitely one of the toughest divisions in UFC. You have fighters like Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch also.. George St. Pierre..

Yes I was getting to him last. Some of the guys underneath George St. Pierre are the type of fighter will be looking to compete against in 18 months time?

Yes, I think it’s a very realistic goal to fight those guys in about a year or 18 months.

Obviously George St. Pierre is a phenomenal fighter, how do you think you might fair against him in the future?

Definitely with the right preparation I think I would come out on top. Obviously George is an incredible athlete and he keeps making waves in the sport and for the sport as well.

I heard that you started out in rugby? Yes I played rugby until I was about 17 and then made the switch to MMA.

What was the reason for choosing MMA over Rugby? Did you prefer a more individual sport?

In MMA I saw something new and exciting, I really wanted to try it as well, so I decided to give it my all and give it my full focus rather than doing both a at the same time. You always pick up little injuries in rugby, which hampers you, especially when you are preparing for a competition or a fight. So I stopped rugby and give it my all (MMA) and did quite well at it, so I decided to focus on that.

What should the fans expect from John Hathaway?

Just for me to come out each time as new and better fighter each time. It’s good to have fan support and I will always keep trying to perform to my best and keep the fans entertained.


Photography by Colin Williams

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Great Britain’s Andy Turner competes during the men’s 110m hurdles heats. European Athletics Championships 2010, Barcelona, July 29, 2010. Bogdan Maran/Cleva Media

seen sport magazine issue no. 3

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photo feature

insightful feature

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amir king khan

great issue

fantastic reportage

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