Sports Briefs

■ Boxing
Eagle still the champ
Champion Eagle Kyowa of Thailand defeated Japan's Akira Yaegashi in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday with a unanimous decision to successfully defend his WBC minimum weight title. Kyowa, who is based in Japan, improved to a record of 18-1 with six knockouts. Yaegashi, taking his first shot at a world title, slipped to 6-1 with five KOs. Kyowa led after the first four rounds and sent Yaegashi to the canvas with a right to the jaw in the closing seconds of the 10th round.

■ Soccer
Heavily armed fans arrested
Brazilian arrested two fans who allegedly planned to throw a grenade at a bus full of rival supporters following a Brazilian league match over the weekend, authorities said on Monday. The two Palmeiras fans were detained at a federal highway police checkpoint on Sunday night following the team's 3-1 loss to Cruzeiro in Sao Paulo, highway police said in a statement.

■ Boxing
Jailbird wins title, freedom
Convicted dealer Samson Sor Siriporn is to be released from prison three years early as a reward for winning the women's WBC light-flyweight title, her promoter said yesterday. The Thai boxer, who in April became the first boxer to win a world title while serving a jail sentence, will be paroled on June 13 so she can prepare for her next fight. Siriporn, 24, is serving a 10-year sentence for selling methamphetamines. Under the close watch of dozens of prison guards at the notorious "Bangkok Hilton," Siriporn won a unanimous decision to beat Japan's Ayaka Miyano and take the vacant WBC belt. She has since vowed to turn her back on her life of crime and focus on a career in the ring.