SPORTS DIGEST || Pavlik fight canceled, Abraham could fill in

Pavlik fight canceled, Abraham could fill in

YOUNGSTOWN

Andre Ward’s lingering shoulder injury has forced his camp to cancel his upcoming super middleweight title fight with Kelly Pavlik.

Ward, who injured his shoulder in November, originally postponed a scheduled January bout to February or March. But Ward will now need surgery on the shoulder.

Former IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham told the Aremenia News that he is negotiating with Pavlik for a potential 2013 fight, although it would likely not take place until at least the summer.

YSU softball camp

youngstown

The Youngstown State softball team camp on January 19 is sold out.

There are spots available in the Feb. 9 team camp and both individual camps on Jan. 18 and Feb. 8.

The Feb. 9 team camp is geared for players in eighth grade and below.

For more information email bcampbell@ysu.edu.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report winter prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred.

Equal prize money for all at cycling worlds

IGLE, Switzerland

Cycling’s governing body is introducing equal prize money for men and women at most world championship events.

The decision takes effect in January, with the International Cycling Union ruling that “no distinction should be made between the achievements of men and women.”

UCI President Pat McQuaid says it “is a simple but very important step forward in our effort to guarantee a healthy and fair future for our sport.”

The UCI management committee’s ruling applies to all cycling disciplines apart from the road team time trial.

Sochi Olympic sites to be checked for damage

MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to inspect Olympic sites at the 2014 Winter Games’ capital, Sochi, which was hit by an earthquake.

The Emergency Situations Ministry reported a 5.5 magnitude earthquake in the area early Wednesday morning. The epicenter was in the Black Sea, more than 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Sochi, and no damage in the city was reported.

Putin, however, asked the local authorities to double-check Olympic sites for damage, the Interfax news agency reported.

The Black Sea resort of Sochi is slightly more than a year away from hosting the Winter Games. It hosted Russia’s national figure skating championships at one of the Olympic sites earlier this week.

Wild Oats XI wins Sydney-Hobart race

HOBART, Australia

Wild Oats XI won line honors in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the sixth time, breaking its own record time.

The super maxi skippered by Mark Richards crossed the finish line at Constitution Dock in Hobart.

The boat left Sydney on Wednesday and finished in 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes, 12 seconds. That was 17 minutes faster than the mark set by Wild Oats XI in 2005 for the 723-mile race.

Cigar Street wins at Gulfstream Park

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.

Cigar Street returned from a nine-month layoff to win the $54,500 optional claiming race Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Miami Heat forward Rashard Lewis and Jake Ballis, the 3-year-old Cigar Street beat Fast Falcon by two lengths, running 1 1/16th miles in 1:44.33 under John Velazquez.

Cigar Street paid $5.20, $2.60 and $2.60, Fast Falcon returned $2.40 and $2.40, and Bartolome paid $4.80 to show.

Vindicator staff/wire reports