Bradley wins split decision over Marquez
Bradley wins split decision over Marquez
LAS VEGAS — Once again, Timothy Bradley’s hand was raised in victory. Once again, he heard the boos.
The script was familiar enough Saturday night for Bradley against Juan Manuel Marquez. So, too, was the result.
Bradley did just enough to win once again, beating Marquez by split decision to remain unbeaten and keep his piece of the welterweight title.
“That win was my ticket to the boxing Hall of Fame,” Bradley said. “I beat a great champion.”
The judges thought so, though the fight was about as close as they come. But the pro-Marquez crowd didn’t, and neither did the Mexican fighter who was thwarted in his bid for a title in a fifth weight class at the age of 40.
“I came to win. I felt that I did win,” Marquez said. “The judges took it away. You don’t have to knock out a guy to win.”
Bradley was the more active fighter and came on in the second half of the fight to win. It was the third straight close decision win for Bradley, who was a hotly disputed winner over Manny Pacquiao two fights ago.
Bradley won 116-112 on one card and 115-113 on another, while a third judge had Marquez winning 115-113. The Associated Press scored it 115-113 for Bradley.
Brad Keselowski returns to victory lane
CONCORD, N.C. — The champ is back … in Victory Lane.
Brad Keselowski, the reigning Sprint Cup Series champion who failed to earn the right to defend his title in this year’s Chase, earned his first trip to Victory Lane this season, holding off Kasey Kahne to win Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
At one time during the race, Keselowski was penalized for driving out of his pit stall with his jack still connected to his car.
He moved into the lead on Lap 322 and engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Kahne over three laps before putting some distance between the pair.
Bulls’ Derrick Rose sits out with ‘knee soreness’
RIO DE JANEIRO — Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is sitting out a preseason game against the Washington Wizards because of a sore left knee, the same one that kept him out all last season after surgery.
Team officials did not indicate the extent of the injury Saturday, simply listing Rose with “left knee soreness.”
Rose has played two preseason games without any sign of problems. The first NBA game in South America now will be missing its biggest star.
ESPN, sponsors help Chargers lift blackout
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers have been spared the embarrassment of a local TV blackout of Monday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts after ESPN and some local sponsors guaranteed the purchase of approximately 8,500 tickets.
ESPN says it will give a portion of the tickets to military and charitable organizations.
The Chargers had received a 24-hour extension from the NFL before announcing Saturday that a sellout was guaranteed.
By wire sources