■BOXING
Mexican fighter dies
Mexican super bantamweight fighter Benjamin Flores died aged 25 on Tuesday at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, after being hospitalized with injuries from a Thursday night defeat. Bob Lenhardt, supervisor of the bout, said Flores passed away at the hospital, where he was taken following his loss to American Al Seeger for the vacant North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight crown. Flores had not lost in two years, winning five fights in a row until he faced Seeger, who won by stopping Flores in the eighth round. Flores was helped to his corner but had to be removed from the ring on a stretcher.
■FOOTBALL
Favre to meet with Vikings
Brett Favre, the twice-retired National Football League quarterback who turns 40 in October, is set to meet with the Minnesota Vikings about a possible comeback, ESPN reported on Tuesday. Citing unnamed sources, the sports television network said former Green Bay Packers star Favre, who played last season for the New York Jets, is set to meet Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress about a potential NFL return.
■BASEBALL
Matsuzaka in rehab start
Boston Red Sox’s Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched two-and-two-third scoreless innings in a rehab start for Pawtucket against the Toledo Mud Hens in a minor league game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Tuesday. Matsuzaka has been on the major league disabled list since April 15 with a mild right shoulder strain. He allowed two hits — a ground single and an infield single — walked two and struck out five against Toledo. Matsuzaka threw 29 of 47 pitches for strikes and topped out at 150kph, according to the radar gun at McCoy Stadium. He pitched himself into and out of a second-inning jam. Toledo loaded the bases with no outs on a single and two walks. But Matsuzaka retired one on a pop fly, struck out another and got the third to bounce back to the mound.
■BASKETBALL
Robber jailed for 21 years
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for robbing NBA star Antoine Walker at gunpoint at his Chicago home. Antoine Larkins pleaded guilty on Tuesday to home invasion charges. He and three others were initially charged with armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion. Authorities said Walker was pulling into his garage on July 9, 2007, when several armed men ambushed him, forced him and an assistant inside his home and took a car, cash and jewelry. One suspect, 24-year-old Gregory Reedfields, has been sentenced to four years in prison. The other two, 30-year-old Phillip Allison and 27-year-old Demorris Hill, are also accused of robbing the home of New York Knicks player Eddy Curry in 2007. Their cases are pending.
■BASKETBALL
Bing elected Detroit mayor
Former Detroit Pistons star and NBA Hall-of-Famer Dave Bing was elected mayor of Detroit on Tuesday. The 65-year-old businessman beat incumbent and fellow Democrat Ken Cockrel in a special runoff election. Bing captured 52.3 percent of the vote to 47.7 percent for Cockrel. Bing will serve the remainder of the term of Kwame Kilpatrick, who stepped down as part of pleas to two criminal cases. Bing must win the Nov. 3 general election to hold onto the mayor’s seat for a full four years. Bing was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame in 1990. He played nine of his 12 seasons with the Pistons and was a seven-time All-Star.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely