In brief: Chavez knocks out Sanchez in 6th
Julio Cesar Chavez looked every bit as good as his old man, stopping Ray Sanchez in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight fight Saturday night at Albuquerque, N.M.
Chavez (34-0-1, 27 KOs), the son of the heralded Mexican champion, notched the biggest win of his young career, driving Sanchez (20-2) into the ropes midway through the sixth and launching a flurry of shots to the head.
Sanchez dropped to his knees, then couldn’t answer after the count at 1:33 of the round, sending Mexican fans into a frenzy in Sanchez’s hometown arena.
The left-handed Sanchez was touted as the hardest puncher Chavez has faced. But with his father watching from a ringside seat, Chavez held his own and answered each shot.
“Vernon Forrest successfully defended his WBC super welterweight title at Uncasville, Conn., stopping Italy’s Michele Piccirillo at 2:21 of the 11th round.
Baseball
Yankees add bait
The Yankees have added Phil Hughes, the most highly rated of their top young starting pitchers, to the package they are offering the Minnesota Twins in exchange for two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.
New York also is offering to send the Twins center fielder Melky Cabrera and a third player, who would be a midlevel prospect, according to a baseball official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing. New York won’t include Joba Chamberlain and doesn’t plan to include both Hughes and Ian Kennedy.
“Randy Wolf and the San Diego Padres agreed in principle to a one-year deal that would pay the left-hander about $9 million if he bounces back from shoulder surgery and meets all his performance bonuses.
Golf
Nelsons in the lead
Three-time major champion Larry Nelson and his son Josh have a one-shot lead in the scramble format Del Webb Father-Son Challenge at Orlando, Fla., over David Duval and his stepson, Deano Karavites. The Nelsons shot a 12-under-par 60.
The two-day tournament, held at ChampionsGate Golf Resort, is limited to major champions and their sons.
“Trevor Immelman and Justin Rose shot 5-under 67s to share the third-round lead in the Nedbank Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, South Africa.
Miscellany
Vonn wins downhill
Lindsey Vonn of the United States won a World Cup downhill, withstanding temperatures that plunged to 18 below zero at Lake Louise, Alberta.
Vonn, formerly Lindsey Kildow, finished in 1 minute, 48.69 seconds.
“Romance is Diane, ridden by Michael Baze, led all the way in winning the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap by a length in a track and stakes record time of 1:40.90 at Hollywood Park at Inglewood, Calif.
“Ryan Lochte set his second American record in three days, winning the 200-yard backstroke for his fourth victory at the U.S. short course national championships at Atlanta, a meet that was staged in yards instead of the usual Olympic meters.
Natalie Coughlin went 3 for 4 in the three-day meet, adding the 100 freestyle title, while Michael Phelps won the 100 free for his second individual victory.
“Ken McGregor, the 1952 Australian Open champion who teamed with Frank Sedgman for a Grand Slam doubles sweep, has died in Adealaide, Australia, after a short illness. He was 78.