■ Boxing
Eagle still the champ
Champion Eagle Kyowa of Thailand defeated Japan's Akira Yaegashi in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday with a unanimous decision to successfully defend his WBC minimum weight title. Kyowa, who is based in Japan, improved to a record of 18-1 with six knockouts. Yaegashi, taking his first shot at a world title, slipped to 6-1 with five KOs. Kyowa led after the first four rounds and sent Yaegashi to the canvas with a right to the jaw in the closing seconds of the 10th round.
■ Soccer
Heavily armed fans arrested
Brazilian police arrested two fans who allegedly planned to throw a grenade at a bus full of rival supporters following a Brazilian league match over the weekend, authorities said on Monday. The two Palmeiras fans were detained at a federal highway police checkpoint on Sunday night following the team's 3-1 loss to Cruzeiro in Sao Paulo, highway police said in a statement.
■ Boxing
Jailbird wins title, freedom
Convicted drugs dealer Samson Sor Siriporn is to be released from prison three years early as a reward for winning the women's WBC light-flyweight title, her promoter said yesterday. The Thai boxer, who in April became the first boxer to win a world title while serving a jail sentence, will be paroled on June 13 so she can prepare for her next fight. Siriporn, 24, is serving a 10-year sentence for selling methamphetamines. Under the close watch of dozens of prison guards at the notorious "Bangkok Hilton," Siriporn won a unanimous decision to beat Japan's Ayaka Miyano and take the vacant WBC belt. She has since vowed to turn her back on her life of crime and focus on a career in the ring.
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
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