LAS VEGAS — A former champion lightweight boxer and member of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame has died in Las Vegas.
Hawaiian boxer Ganigan dies at
home in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — A former champion lightweight boxer and member of the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame has died in Las Vegas.
The Clark County coroner’s office said Thursday that Andrew “Andy” Ganigan died at home early Wednesday of end-stage liver cancer. He was 59.
Ganigan’s niece, Michell Shue, said Ganigan never fully recovered from injuries suffered in a March 2010 attack by 21-year-old Matthew Kupa outside a bar in Waipahu, Hawaii.
The 6-foot, 290-pound Kupa told police he had been drinking and didn’t remember pummeling Ganigan. Kupa was sentenced this year to 18 months in prison.
The 5-foot-6 Ganigan was dubbed the “Hawaiian Punch.” He won NABF and WAA titles, and had a 34-5 record with 30 knockouts from 1972 to 1983.
Ravens LB Suggs tears Achilles tendon
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs will have surgery for a partially torn Achilles tendon, an injury he insists will not keep him sidelined for the entire 2012 season.
The injury occurred in Arizona while Suggs was practicing for an upcoming conditioning test, he said Thursday in a text message.
Suggs initially thought it was a sprain but a doctor determined that it was a partial tear, he said.
Suggs, the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, is expected to have surgery as soon as next week.
A torn Achilles tendon usually requires a lengthy rehabilitation program, but Suggs has no intention of sitting out the year.
The injury is a major blow to a stout defense that also features linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed and tackle Haloti Ngata.
Suggs had 14 sacks last season, forced a franchise-record seven fumbles and received his fifth Pro Bowl invitation in helping the Ravens win the AFC North with a 12-4 record.
Simpson in 3-way
tie for lead at
Quail Hollow
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Webb Simpson was nervous playing in the same group with Tiger Woods. It sure didn’t show Thursday in the Wells Fargo Championship.
Simpson chipped in from 35 yards in front of the par-4 eighth green for eagle and then made Woods shake his head and smile when he holed a 60-foot birdie putt that might have rolled off the 12th green if the cup didn’t get in the way.
It led to a 7-under 65 for a share of the lead with Stewart Cink and Ryan Moore.
Rickie Fowler, still searching for his first PGA Tour win in his third full season, led a group of five players at 66 that included Patrick Reed, the 21-year-old from Augusta State who has Monday qualified to get in the last two tournaments.
Torres appealing 25-game suspension
TORONTO — Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres is appealing the length of his 25-game suspension.
Torres was penalized last month for a hit to the head on Chicago forward Marian Hossa.
Torres and the NHL Players’ Association will meet with Commissioner Gary Bettman about the length of the suspension, but not the ban itself. The NHLPA says there’s no date set for the meeting.
Indiana-Kentucky series ending
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana versus Kentucky, one of college basketball’s best rivalries, is over.
Barring a change of heart between now and this summer, Indiana officials said Thursday that they will not renew the contract to play Kentucky because of a disagreement over where to hold the games.
The schools have met during the regular season every year since 1969, with all but one of those games played in December.
After months of behind-the-scenes bickering over whether to play the games on campus, as Indiana prefers, or at neutral sites, as Kentucky prefers, Hoosiers athletic director Fred Glass ended the debate for now.
“In the final analysis, we want our student-athletes, our overall student body and our season-ticket holders to enjoy this series at Assembly Hall,” Glass said.
Del Potro cruises into Estoril Open quarterfinals
OEIRAS, Portugal — Former U.S. Open champion Juan del Potro cruised into the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Rui Machado of Portugal on Thursday.
The top-seeded Argentine, who won at Flushing Meadow in 2009, looked to be only troubled in the third game of the first set, when he saved two break points.
Del Potro will meet 2009 and 2010 champion Albert Montanes of Spain, who rallied past Bobby Reynolds of the United States 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Joao Sousa of Portugal advanced after fifth-seeded Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan withdrew when trailing 3-6, 6-3, 4-2.
By wire sources