■SWITZERLAND
Klitschko retains WBC title
Vitali Klitschko retained his WBC heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Kevin Johnson of the US on Saturday. The 38-year-old Klitschko kept Johnson against the ropes for much of the fight but landed few heavy shots to hurt the 30-year-old challenger. “I would have preferred a knockout but I’m happy because I won all 12 rounds,” Klitschko told 17,000 fans ringside at PostFinance Arena. “He’s not easy to hit.” Johnson proved a durable opponent and did his best work with counterattacking straight left jabs, though without managing to rock Klitschko who has never taken a standing count in his career. “When I first met Vitali I told him: ‘You won’t knock me out.’ It wasn’t a hard fight,” Johnson said. “There are things we need to work on and we’re going to go home to the gym and polish them up.” Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) was making a third successful defense of the belt he reclaimed in October last year after a four-year break to recover from injuries.
■UNITED STATES
Bradley defends WBO title
Timothy Bradley defended his WBO light welterweight title and remained unbeaten with a dominant unanimous decision over Lamont Peterson on Saturday. With the hometown crowd chanting his name even before the opening bell, Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) delighted his fans with his superior skill and speed, blemishing the perfect record of his friend and former roommate from their amateur days. Peterson (27-1), who overcame childhood homelessness to become a title contender, was knocked down for the first time in his career by an overhand right in the third round. Peterson rallied courageously, but Bradley picked him apart through the late rounds to stay among boxing’s top rising champions.
■UNITED STATES
Malignaggi beats Diaz
Paul Malignaggi beat fellow American Juan Diaz by unanimous decision on Saturday, a clear outcome after a controversial fight in August between the two junior welterweights. The 29-year old Malignaggi came out more aggressive than normal and consistently landed his jab while Diaz waited to counter. The Brooklyn-based fighter always seemed to have the fight under control, even when Diaz managed to steal a few rounds with quick flurries. All three judges scored it 116-111 for Malignaggi.
■UNITED STATES
Darchinyan KOs Rojas
Australia’s Vic Darchinyan knocked out Mexico’s Tomas Rojas in the second round on Saturday to retain his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super flyweight titles. The Armenian-born Aussie fighter flattened Rojas after two minutes and 54 seconds of the second round, improving to 33-2 with one drawn by taking his 27th victory inside the distance in the matchup of southpaw stars. Rojas fell to 32-11 after his first loss in more than two years. The Mexican landed more punches and kept Darchinyan on the move over the first five minutes, but the champion was simply waiting for the right moment to strike. “He was punching me. He was making more punches than me. But I knew my time would come,” Darchinyan said. Darchinyan’s moment came late in the second round when a left to the head set up a powerful left to the chest that Rojas tried to duck. Instead, the Mexican moved his head directly into the path of Darchinyan’s punch and was caught on the chin and then hard in the chest before falling onto his back.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
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