Calzaghe dominates Jones to go out a winner
If this was indeed his final fight, Joe Calzaghe left his fans on their feet begging for more.
The popular undefeated Welshman overcame a first-round knockdown to beat Roy Jones Jr. in a bloody unanimous decision Saturday night, delighting a raucous crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden in what Calzaghe claims will be his final bout.
There is little left for him to prove after reigning as super middleweight champion for more than a decade, unifying the division, defeating Bernard Hopkins and now felling Jones – possibly pounding him right into retirement as well.
•Abraham defeats Marquez: At Bamberg, Germany, Arthur Abraham defeated Raul Marquez by technical knockout to defend his IBF middleweight boxing title for the eighth time and remain undefeated.
Abraham (28-0, 22 KOs) landed two rights to Marquez’s (41-4-1, 29 KOs) right eye in the sixth round and the challenger’s camp called off the fight just before the seventh was due to start.
Golf
Marino tied for lead
Steve Marino shot a 6-under-par 66 to tie Scott Verplank for the lead heading into the final round of the $4.6 million Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disney World at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The second-year PGA tour member will play with Verplank and Davis Love III, two players with Ryder Cup experience, PGA wins and who were in each other’s wedding, in the final threesome today. Verplank and Marino are tied at 19-under 197 after three rounds.
•Monday finish in China: At Shanghai, China, the rain-delayed HSBC Champions tournament will finish Monday, which is just fine with Australian Geoff Ogilvy.
Ogilvy’s 7-under 65 in the second round – the best of the day – put him a stroke behind co-leaders Sergio Garcia (68) and Henrik Stenson (69).
Rain on Friday in China’s financial capital washed out all play, and light rain and fog Saturday delayed the start of the second round. That means squeezing in about nine holes Monday to finish, with most players getting in 27 at the Sheshan Golf Club.
•Shin wins Mizuno Classic: At Shima, Japan, Shin Ji-yai won the Mizuno Classic for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season and fifth overall win of the year, shooting a 5-under 67 today to easily hold off Mayu Hattori and Kinetsu Kashikojima.
Auto racing
Edwards wins Nationwide
Carl Edwards improved his bid to win a championship this season, rolling to a dominating win at Phoenix International Raceway at Avondale, Ariz., to stay in mathematical contention for the Nationwide Series title.
The victory chipped into Clint Bowyer’s lead – Bowyer started the race up 91 points, but was in an early accident and finished fourth.
Bowyer goes to next week’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a 56-point lead over Edwards. Bowyer can win the championship next week if he finishes eighth or better, regardless of what Edwards does.
Denny Hamlin finished second and Kevin Harvick was third.
Tennis
Williams defeats Jankovic
Venus Williams advanced to the final of the Sony Ericsson Championships at Doha, Qatar, with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 win over top-ranked Jelena Jankovic.
Williams will face Vera Zvonareva, who defeated Olympic champion Elena Dementieva 7-6 (7), 3-6, 6-3 in the other semifinal at the WTA Tour’s season-ending event.
Miscellany
Americans finish 1-2
Jeremy Abbott led an American double in the men’s competition at the Cup of China at Beijing, and South Korea’s Kim Yu-na held onto her lead to win the women’s event.
Abbott followed up his win in Friday’s short program by leading fellow American Stephen Carriere with a free skate that scored 156.39.
•O’Reilly lifts U.S.: At Tampa, Fla., Heather O’Reilly scored in the 72nd minute and the U.S. women’s soccer team beat South Korea 1-0 in an exhibition match.
•James comes up big again: At Chicago, LeBron James scored 41 points against Chicago for the second time in four days, and the Cleveland Cavaliers hung on to beat the Bulls 106-97.