Sunday, November 16, 2014
Klitschko floors Pulev in 5th round
HAMBURG, Germany
Wladimir Klitschko knocked out the previously unbeaten Kubrat Pulev in the fifth round to retain his four heavyweight belts.
Klitschko sent the Bulgarian flying back with a huge left punch to his jaw, leaving him sprawled on the canvas and giving referee Tony Weeks no option but to end the bout 2 minutes, 11 seconds into the round.
Klitschko, taller with a longer reach, dominated from the start and had Pulev down twice in the opening round and again in the third, which the challenger did well to finish with a bloody left eye.
Klitschko recorded his 54th KO in 63 wins, with three defeats.
Pulev dropped to 20-1.
In his 26th world championship fight, Klitschko retained his WBA, IBF, and minor WBO and IBO heavyweight belts.
49ers lose defender Ward for season
SAN FRANCISCO
The San Francisco 49ers lost another key defender for the remainder of the season, placing rookie nickel cornerback and top draft pick Jimmie Ward on injured reserve Saturday with a foot injury.
It has been a tough week for the defense ahead of Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants. Ward was hurt in last Sunday’s overtime win at New Orleans, and it’s the same foot that needed surgery in March for a Jones fracture.
Ward joins seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis on season-ending injured reserve. Willis’ season was ended Tuesday, and the team announced he would need surgery for a strained muscle in his left big toe. He was injured in the third quarter at St.Louis on Oct. 13.
Schumacher wins Top Fuel championship
POMONA, Calif.
Tony Schumacher won a record eighth Top Fuel world championship on Saturday at the NHRA Finals.
Schumacher secured his first season title since 2009 when closest challenger Spencer Massey failed to improve on his sixth-place qualifying position. Schumacher qualified ninth and will face Larry Dixon in the opening round of eliminations.
Schumacher holds a 104-point lead over second-place Massey with a maximum of 100 points available to a single driver on Sunday.
Richie Crampton (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the top qualifiers in their categories.
League, union in conflict on Peterson
MINNEAPOLIS
Potential discipline for Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson under the NFL personal conduct policy has become more complicated and contentious.
The league says Peterson declined to meet Friday about his case so it proceeded with a review without him. The league also says it was unwilling to postpone the hearing beyond this week, citing the NFL Players Association’s desire to resolve the situation promptly.
Peterson has been on paid leave for two months. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault in Texas for hitting his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch.
The NFLPA filed an expedited grievance against the NFL to return Peterson to the roster until punishment is determined. That issue will be moderated Monday by an arbitrator.
Divine Fortune takes Colonial Cup race
CAMDEN, S.C.
Defending steeplechase Eclipse Award winner Divine Fortune took a six-length lead at the start and remained out front the rest way for a nine-length victory over Barnstorming in the $100,000 Colonial Cup.
Divine Fortune won for the second time in five steeplechase starts and broke the three-race win streak of Demonstrative this season. Demonstrative finished third, a nose behind Barnstorming in the field of six at Springdale Racecourse.
Wire reports