■BOXING
Holt surprises Torres
Kendall Holt survived two knockdowns in the first 35 seconds, then landed a right that stopped Ricardo Torres just over a minute into the first round to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Colombian fighter stopped Holt last September in their first 140-pound title fight, and dropped him with a right to the head just 15 seconds into this one. Holt was knocked down a second time moments later, and Torres could have been deducted a point when he took a swipe at the American as he tried to stand back up. Not that it would have mattered. Holt regrouped and landed a left to the body that forced Torres to drop his hands and fall backward off balance.
■RUGBY UNION
French forwards suspended
French forwards Renaud Boyoud and Imanol Harinordoquy were suspended yesterday for three weeks for brawling with a rival player during the team’s record 40-10 loss to the Wallabies. Both players pleaded guilty to striking charges laid at a disciplinary hearing yesterday. Dax tighthead prop Boyoud and Biarritz flanker Harinordoquy both punched Wallabies second-rower James Horwill in separate instances during the melee in the 28th minute of the first half on Saturday, the hearing found.
■SOCCER
Brother of star kidnapped
Gunmen in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, kidnapped the younger brother of Nigerian soccer star Joseph Yobo on Saturday, police said. The unidentified men seized Norum Yobo at gunpoint before dawn as he was returning from a party, Rivers State police spokeswoman Rita Inoma-Abbey said. No group claimed has responsibility for the kidnapping and no ransom demand had been made, she said. Joseph Yobo played for Everton soccer club in the British Premier League last season and is a regular fixture on Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles.
■BOXING
Sturm wins WBA title
Felix Sturm jabbed his way to lopsided decision over American Randy Griffin on Saturday and earned a fourth successful defense of his WBA middleweight title in Halle, Germany. The German, whose victory comes eight-and-a-half months after the two fought to a draw in October, repeatedly used his left jab from the opening seconds and won 116-113, 116-112 and 118-110. Sturm took control in the fifth round, following his lefts with immediate right-hand blows. “I had to make this rematch with Griffin,” said Sturm, who improved to 30-2 with one draw and 13 knockouts. He repeatedly scored with combinations in the 11th, ending the round by thrusting his arms upward in victory.
■RUGBY
Porn interrupts match
Viewers of a grassroots rugby television program in New Zealand received more than they bargained for Sunday when onfield play gave way to hardcore pornography. Nearly four minutes of a porn segment were screened on the free-to-air Prime Channel before order was restored and the rugby returned. A statement from Prime said a distribution fault had allowed “inappropriate material” from the pay-per-view Spice Channel to appear in the rugby program. Rival Television Three reported that “parents were outraged” at the programming blunder that saw the rugby replaced by Desperate Black Wives 2. One father said his eight-year-old son’s innocence was ruined while the rival station showed a 12-year-old girl with her hands over her eyes saying “eww” and “gross.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and