■BOXING
Gatti family hires TV host
The family of Arturo Gatti has hired a prominent US pathologist to oversee a second autopsy in the death of the former boxing champion. Saturday’s autopsy was to be assisted by Michael Baden, the host of the HBO cable TV show Autopsy. Baden is also the chief forensic pathologist for New York State Police and was an expert witness in the O.J. Simpson, Kobe Bryant and Phil Spector trials. Gatti’s family has rejected a conclusion by Brazilian authorities that he committed suicide at a resort in the northeastern part of the country on July 11. A Quebec coroner agreed to exhume Gatti’s body at their request. The Canadian government has also formally asked Brazilian authorities for more information about Gatti’s death.
■BOXING
Alexander wins title
Devon Alexander won the WBC’s vacant light welterweight title when former champion Junior Witter quit before the ninth round of their bout on Saturday, citing a hand injury. Alexander, a 22-year-old American, remained unbeaten with a solid performance against the unorthodox Witter, who didn’t appear to take much serious punishment beyond a cut over his right eye. The English fighter’s corner declined to send him out for the ninth, handing the victory to Alexander at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort, just outside Palm Springs, Florida. After the fight, Witter said he couldn’t continue because of extreme pain in his hand, which recently healed from a hairline break. Witter’s decision baffled fans who expected a full fight from the 35-year-old, who had lost just once since June 2000. His arms resting on the ropes, Witter shrugged at fans shouting “Witter the quitter!” from the stands.
■BASKETBALL
Parker to miss Italy game
Tony Parker of France has a mild right ankle sprain and the San Antonio Spurs guard will begin his rehabilitation in the US before returning to Europe, the Spurs said on Saturday. Parker injured the ankle while playing for France against Austria on July 23. He was examined by the Spurs’ medical staff on Saturday. Parker is expected to rejoin the French national team next week but will not be available for France’s Euroleague Championship qualifying round game with Italy on Wednesday, the Spurs said on their Web site.
■FOOTBALL
Mason changes mind
Veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason reversed his decision to retire and turned up at the Baltimore Ravens’ training camp on Saturday. “It was a tough decision, but I think it was a good decision for me to come back,” Mason, who had announced his retirement on July 13, told the Ravens’ Web site. “I still have an intense fire inside me, and I want to play,” the 12-year veteran added. “My family and I wanted to finish it out the right way. I felt like I had left something undone.” Mason, 35, has caught 790 passes for 10,061 yards and 52 touchdowns.
■NASCAR
Stewart loses pole position
Tony Stewart lost his pole position and will start from the back of the pack after wrecking his car during practice for the Pennsylvania 500 on Saturday. Stewart lost control of his No. 14 Chevrolet on a turn on the second lap of Saturday’s first practice and spun into the wall. He was unhurt. His Stewart-Haas Racing crew quickly got to work on the backup. Stewart leads in points and was the pole sitter at Pocono because rain washed out Friday’s qualifying.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put