■BASKETBALL
Iverson loses court appeal
A US appeals court upheld on Tuesday a jury award of US$260,000 against four-time NBA scoring champion Allen Iverson and his bodyguard to a man injured in a 2005 brawl at a Washington nightclub. Marlin Godfrey sued bodyguard Jason Kane for assault and battery and Iverson for negligent supervision of Kane. Godfrey suffered a concussion, a ruptured eardrum, a burst blood vessel in his eye, a torn rotator cuff, cuts, bruises and emotional injuries, the ruling by the appeals court said. A three-judge panel of the appeals court unanimously rejected the argument by lawyers for Iverson, that the evidence was legally insufficient to support the verdict against him for negligent supervision. In 2007 a jury awarded Godfrey US$250,000 for pain and suffering and US$10,000 for medical expenses. The fight broke out when Kane and another man who sometimes acted as Iverson’s bodyguard ordered Godfrey and his party to leave the club’s VIP area to make room for Iverson and his friends. “Iverson stayed out of the fray in the back corner of the VIP area, standing on a couch or bench and observing. He did not say or do anything to try to stop Kane or anyone else from fighting,” the ruling said.
■Boxing
‘Pacman’ scoops honor
Filipino star Manny Pacquiao has been voted fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) after a dominating win over Oscar De La Hoya. Joe Calzaghe was runner-up, but voted manager of the year on Tuesday for guiding his own career. The undefeated former super middleweight champion recently retired. Pacquiao won three times last year, the highlighted being his stoppage of De La Hoya. “Pacmans”’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was voted trainer of the year, the third time he has won the award. The super bantamweight match between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez was chosen fight of the year. Vazquez won the fight by split decision.
■BOXING
Former champ dies
Former world bantamweight champion Raul Macias has died from cancer aged 74. Known by the nickname “Mouse,” the 1.61m Macias took part in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics then turned pro the next year. He won the vacant NBA — which later became the WBA — world bantamweight title by beating Thailand’s Chamrern Songkitrat in 1955. The boxer, famed for keeping in shape by dancing, became Mexico’s top sports hero. More than 50,000 people filled the Mexican capital’s bullfighting ring to see him defeat Nate Brooks in 1954 for the North American title. Macias defended his world title twice before losing to Alphonse Halimi in 1957. Macias retired in 1962 at age 28 with a professional record of 41-2. He then worked as a trainer and acted in TV soap operas.
■BOXING
Series slots up for grabs
Six countries are in the fray for four Asian city slots in the World Series of Boxing, which will pit franchise teams against each other in a league format from late next year. China, India, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Qatar were interested in taking the slots, an Indian boxing official said on Tuesday. Twelve franchises, four each from Asia, Europe and the Americas, will compete against each other in a league format. With professional boxing splintered because of the array of different governing bodies and weight classifications, the amateur version hopes the World Series of Boxing will strike a chord with disaffected fans.
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