BOXING
Allakhverdiev wins title
Russia’s Khabib Allakhverdiev won the vacant World Boxing Association super lightweight title on Friday, beating Joan Guzman of the Dominican Republic on a technical decision. Guzman, the former two-division champion, fell to the canvas as he tried to avoid a punch in the eighth round at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. Guzman gingerly walked to a corner, favoring his left leg, but informed referee Luis Pabon he wanted to resume the fight. Allakhderviev (18-0) quickly pursued Guzman (33-1) and landed a left to the head that appeared to have knocked the Dominican down. Pabon did not rule it a knockdown, but Guzman told Pabon and his trainer, Herman Caicedo, he could not continue fighting because of the leg injury. Allakhverdiev scored with two straight rights and a left hook to the head that sent Guzman to the canvas in the third round for the fight’s only genuine knockdown. The win meant Allakhverdiev also retained the IBO light-welterweight title.
BASKETBALL
Raptors sign Pietrus
The Toronto Raptors have signed French free-agent swingman Mickael Pietrus, the NBA team said on Friday. The Atlantic Division side waived forward Dominic McGuire to make room for 30-year-old Pietrus, who averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 42 games last season for the Boston Celtics. Selected with the 11th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2003 NBA Draft, Pietrus spent five seasons with the Warriors before splitting his last four years between Orlando, Phoenix and Boston.
BASKETBALL
Spurs fined US$250,000
The San Antonio Spurs were fined US$250,000 on Friday for sending top players home before a game against the Miami Heat, the NBA said on Friday. The Spurs sent four of their top players home to rest before Thursday’s game, which was the final game of a six-game road trip for San Antonio and their fourth game in five nights. “The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early-season game that was the team’s only regular-season visit to Miami,” NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement. “The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media, or the league office in a timely way. Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans.” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich decided to send Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green home rather than inserting them into the lineup against the Heat.
GOLF
Lawrie leads in Sun City
Paul Lawrie put on a masterclass in ball-striking to claim a one-stroke lead after the second round of the US$5 million Nedbank Golf Challenge on Friday. The Briton snatched three birdies on the back nine at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, to post a three-under-par 69 and a four-under tally of 140, one ahead of European Ryder Cup teammate Martin Kaymer of Germany (69). “I struggled a bit with the driver so I hit a lot of three woods off the tee,” 1999 British Open winner Lawrie told reporters. “I also hit a lot of good shots with my irons. The greens though are a little slow and I felt I left a few putts out there.” American Bill Haas (73), the joint overnight leader alongside Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, was in a tie for third place on 143 with Italian Francesco Molinari (71) and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen (72) and Charl Schwartzel (71).
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two