Nikolai Valuev retained his WBA heavyweight boxing title when US challenger Jameel McCline injured his left knee in the third round on Saturday.
McCline missed a swing at the 2.13m Russian, twisted, and dislocated his kneecap and damaged knee ligaments in falling to the canvas. He tried unsuccessfully to stand, couldn't continue, and had to be carried out on a stretcher.
"He was in terrible pain, literally screaming," said McCline's manager Scott Hirsch. "He thought he was fighting well -- what a crazy end to a fight."
PHOTO: EPA
Billed as the biggest title fight ever, the 1.98m McCline weighed 122kg and Valuev 146kg.
"He is a big man and it's very important for a 120kg man to keep his balance, but he couldn't," Valuev said.
The 33-year-old Valuev, 46-0 with 33 knockouts, completed a successful third defense since winning the championship against John Ruiz in December 2005.
McCline rocked Valuev with a hard left in the first round and they traded several blows, although Valuev appeared to be gaining the upper hand.
"It's terrible the way this ended, but it could have been worse," Valuev said. "I got used to his style -- if this injury hadn't happened, I would have knocked him out by the sixth or seventh round."
McCline, 38-3-7 with 23 knockouts, was taken to the hospital. Beforehand, his corner propped him on a stool in the ring to say a few words.
"I'm disappointed -- I will remember this my whole life," 36-year-old McCline said after his third failed title bid.
The 9,000 spectators cheered for the underdog McCline but with the sudden end changed to jeering.
"It was a great night because Nikolai punched him so hard he broke his kneecap," promoter Don King told the media.
"Nikolai will beat every heavyweight in the world because he has just launched the kneecap-busting punch. That was a powerful punch -- - so powerful that the human eye could not see it," King said.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, 29, has died, the NBA team said in a statement on Tuesday, while the family of Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to play in a major US pro sports league, announced the former Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets player had died after a battle with brain cancer. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement posted on social media. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.” The statement did not provide
Mathys Tel was hero and villain as Tottenham drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United on Monday — a result that leaves their English Premier League future hanging in the balance. The Frenchman broke the deadlock early in the second half to ease the tension at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but then gave away a penalty with a reckless attempted clearance. In the dying minutes, Spurs were grateful to Antonin Kinsky, who produced an astonishing save to deny the visitors a win. Tottenham are now two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United with just two games left this season. The
‘DONE IT ALL’: LeBron James is now out of contract with the Lakers and would head into the off season as a free agent with uncertainty swirling around his future LeBron James on Monday said he would take time to consider his future after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the NBA playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in what could turn out to be the final game of his career. James, 41, delivered a typically defiant performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent the Lakers from falling 115-110 as the Thunder completed a 4-0 sweep in the Western Conference semi-finals series. The four-time NBA champion is now out of contract with the Lakers and would head into the off season
FRUSTRATION: Gauff smacked herself on the head with her racket before storming down the tunnel, emerging afterward to have a heated discussion with her coach Elina Svitolina on Saturday won the Italian Open after beating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 to claim her third Rome title, while Jannik Sinner set a date with Casper Ruud in the men’s final. Ukraine’s Svitolina had not claimed a WTA 1000 title since her last victory at the Foro Italico eight years ago, but prevailed over the ever-erratic Gauff to claim her 20th tournament triumph. Saturday’s win over Gauff was her third in a row against a player in the top four of the world rankings — including Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina — ahead of the French
RSS