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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Briefly


Shane Mosley lands a right on Jose Luis Cruz during their welterweight bout in Las Vegas. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Compiled from wire reports The Spokesman-Review

Veteran boxer Leavander Johnson underwent brain surgery Saturday night after collapsing in his dressing room following his IBF lightweight title loss against challenger Jesus Chavez in Las Vegas

Johnson’s promoter said doctors told him the fighter’s brain swelled during surgery and they were inducing a coma to try and control it.

“He’s not in good shape,” Lou DiBella said.

Johnson left the ring on his own accord but passed out in his dressing room after being stopped by Chavez in the 11th round of their title fight at the MGM Grand hotel-casino. DiBella said he was revived but passed out in the ambulance on the way to the hospital after complaining of a headache.

DiBella said he was told by doctors that Johnson suffered a hematoma – bleeding in the brain area.

He said he seemed aware and conscious going into surgery, but said later that doctors described his situation as grave.

The 35-year-old fighter from Atlantic City, N.J., who was defending his 135-pound title against Chavez, took a tremendous beating throughout the fight.

The fight was part of a card promoted by Oscar De La Hoya that featured bouts with Marco Antonio Barrera and Shane Mosley.

The fight was stopped 38 seconds into the 11th round by referee Tony Weeks, but not before Johnson took what appeared to be about two dozen unanswered punches to the head while he was up against the ropes.

After the 10th round, ringside physician Margaret Goodman checked on Johnson in his corner but allowed the fight to continue.

Chavez dominated, landing big punches to Johnson’s head from the opening bell. Statistics compiled by Compubox showed him landing 409 punches to 148 for Johnson.

After the fight at the MGM Grand hotel-casino, Johnson said in the ring that “I’m all right,” but later collapsed in his dressing room.

Johnson was defending the title he won June 17 when he stopped Stefano Zoff in Italy. It was the first title for Johnson since he turned pro in 1989 after an amateur career that spanned 126 fights.

After Johnson’s bout, Mosley won his second straight fight since moving back down to welterweight, beating Jose Luiz Cruz on a unanimous decision.

He won his 10-round fight easily on all three scorecards but was unimpressive in beating Cruz. One judge had it 98-92, the second scored it 97-93 and the third 96-94.

Also on the card, Marco Antonio Barrera defended his WBC super featherweight title with a decision win over IBF champion Robert Peden of Australia.

Tennis

Mauresmo helps France tie Russia in Fed Cup final

At Paris, Amelie Mauresmo salvaged the opening day of the Fed Cup final for France with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia’s Anastasia Myskina, who made one error after another in a match that left the series tied at 1.

“That’s the worst I’ve ever played,” Myskina said. “What can you do when you play like that?”

Elena Dementieva had given Russia a 1-0 lead at Roland Garros by beating Mary Pierce 7-6 (1), 2-6, 6-1 in a reprise of their contentious match at the U.S. Open.

France, which lost to Russia in last year’s final without Pierce and Mauresmo, is trying to win the title a third time.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-4 and will play for the China Open title against Guillermo Coria in Beijing.

Coria, seeded second, defeated fourth-seeded Thomas Johansson of Sweden 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the other semifinal.

Nadal, the French Open champion, dominated from start to finish despite playing two matches Friday to make up for rain postponements. He won when Ferrero hit wide on match point.

Martina Hingis led the New York Sportimes to their first World TeamTennis championship, going undefeated in a 21-18 victory over the defending champion Newport Beach Breakers in Citrus Heights, Calif.

Baseball

Cuba beats S. Korea to win eighth straight World Cup

Dany Betancourt gave up four hits in 81/3 innings and Cuba won its eighth straight Baseball World Cup with a 3-0 shutout of South Korea in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

It was the 24th title for Cuba since the competition began in 1938.

Sports people

Avalanche assign defender Lynch to Spokane Chiefs

The Colorado Avalanche assigned defenseman Jason Lynch to the Spokane Chiefs. … Private Vow, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, avoided a collision with a riderless horse and won the $300,000 Belmont Futurity at Belmont Park.