■BOXING
Gatti widow gets C$100,000
The widow of Arturo Gatti has been awarded C$100,000 (US$99,000) from his estate by a Quebec Superior Court judge, nine months after his death. Amanda Rodrigues received the money as financial compensation for the legal fees she was forced to pay following the former champion’s death. In the court judgment on Thursday, she also received C$2,000 a month for the couple’s 18-month-old son. In November, a Quebec judge awarded Rodrigues C$40,000 to cover legal fees and child care costs. Rodrigues’ claim to her husband’s estate was being contested by the former fighter’s mother and brother. Gatti was found dead under mysterious circumstances at a Brazilian seaside resort in July.
■BOXING
Hearns holds auction
Thomas “Hitman” Hearns says an auction to help him pay off a US$448,000 tax debt went well. The 51-year-old Hearns said he didn’t yet know how much Saturday’s auction raised. He said it “went well” and people were “very kind” to come out for the event billed as the “Battle of His Life.” The event at the Auction Block featured a 1957 Chevy, three boats, a three-wheeled motorcycle and boxing memorabilia. Obie Moore, owner of the Auction Block, said the IRS was on hand and will get the money. Hearns held WBA, WBC, WBU and IBO titles ranging between 1980 and 1999. His three-round loss to Marvin Hagler for the middleweight title in 1985 is generally considered one of the best bouts in boxing history.
■BOXING
Ikeke retains title
Nigeria’s Kingsley Ikeke successfully defended his North American Boxing Association super middleweight title in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, overcoming a sluggish start to outpoint Zane Marks in a split decision. Two judges scored the fight 97-93 for Ikeke, while the other had it a 95-95 draw. Ikeke, who lives in Los Angeles, won his fourth straight fight to improve to 27-3-0. Marks (17-5) came out the aggressor, immediately getting Ikeke onto the ropes and commanding the first round. Marks maintained his edge in the second before Ikeke seemed to find a groove and take the lead in attacking through the fourth, fifth and sixth. Ikeke regained the edge in the final two rounds.
■POWERBOAT RACING
Racers die at Aussie event
US racer David Bryant has been identified by Australian police as one of two competitors killed at a weekend event on the Manning River in northern New South Wales state. Bryant, 44, is listed in his biography as having competed in powerboat racing for 15 years. He won the US Super Stock Racing Association Series championship in 2002, 2006 and 2007 and won titles in various flatbottom championships. He was the 2007 American Boat Racing Association unlimited hydroplane rookie of the year. A statement from New South Wales police yesterday said the American was ejected from his craft as it traveled at a speed of about 220kph. Police said emergency services attended to Bryant at the scene and he was taken to a hospital, where he died. On Saturday, a 61-year-old Australian was racing around a circuit on the same river when his boat flipped. Police identified him as Brian McCosker. A number of divers on the course went to McCosker’s aid but he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Glenn Banks, president of the Australian Power Boat Association, told the Seven television network that he had never heard of a double tragedy in the 60-year history of the event.
STILL IN THE HUNT: Rasmus Hojlund took his goal tally for SSC Napoli to nine as the champions cruised to a win at US Cremonese and stayed two points behind the leaders Inter on Sunday stayed at the Serie A summit after beating Atalanta BC 1-0 to maintain their slender lead over local rivals AC Milan. Lautaro Martinez netted the only goal of the game in Bergamo for Inter, who lead Milan, 3-0 winners against Hellas Verona thanks to Christoper Nkunku’s first Serie A goals, by a single point at the top of the division. The Argentina striker has scored in four consecutive league matches to end what has been a tricky year in positive style. “I ended last season in a lot of pain... I kept going during the Club World Cup and international
Hosts Morocco on Friday were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, ending their world record run of wins and leaving them still to make sure of progress to the next stage. Midfielder Brahim Diaz tucked away a penalty in stoppage-time at the end of the first half, but Mali equalized from the spot midway through the second half through Lassine Sinayoko. Both penalties were awarded after video reviews in a tempestuous clash at the end of a busy day of action at the tournament. Morocco were atop the Group A standings with four points, while Zambia,
Algeria on Sunday became the third country after Egypt and Nigeria to qualify for the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations by edging Burkina Faso 1-0 in Rabat through a Riyad Mahrez penalty. Defending champions Ivory Coast failed to join the trio after drawing 1-1 with Cameroon in a lively showdown in Marrakesh. Elsewhere, Mozambique ended a 39-match wait for a first victory by beating Gabon 3-2, while Sudan got back into contention for a last-16 slot by beating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Casablanca. Captain Mahrez converted from the penalty spot midway through the first half and Algeria then held on
Supermaxis Master Lock Comanche and defending champions LawConnect yesterday continued their close duel on the second day of the 80th running of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Just over 27 hours into the race that began on Friday in Sydney Harbour and is to end on the island state of Tasmania, Comanche had a 4 nautical mile (7.4km) lead over LawConnect. LawConnect was forced to contend with a broken mainsheet and halyard overnight, but fixed both issues and remained in pursuit of Comanche, which is skippered by Matt Allen and James Mayo. “We had a few things slow us down and Comanche’s
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