Boxing
Mayweather defends his choice of Berto as final foe
LOS ANGELES – Floyd Mayweather Jr. says Andre Berto is a worthy opponent for the final fight of his perfect career.
Three months after Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) dominated Manny Pacquiao in the most lucrative fight in boxing history, he began the difficult business of promoting his pay-per-view bout with Berto on Thursday with a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.
Mayweather acknowledged the immediate backlash from his choice of Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), a former welterweight champion who has lost three of his last six fights. Mayweather promises an exciting fight, even guaranteeing somebody will get knocked down.
College Wrestling
Iowa and Oklahoma State aiming for record crowd
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa wrestling team will host Oklahoma State in the first NCAA match to be held in a Division I football stadium.
The Hawkeyes will face the Cowboys on Nov. 14 at Kinnick Stadium for Grapple on the Gridiron, an effort to break the record for the largest crowd for a single match. It’s currently held by Penn State at nearly 16,000.
Iowa’s football team will host rival Minnesota in Kinnick later that day.
Golf
McIlroy, recovering from injury, listed in PGA field
AKRON, Ohio – Rory McIlroy posted two videos on Instagram that suggest he might be able to return for the PGA Championship.
The world’s No. 1 player will be listed in the tee times that are released Friday. But he still hasn’t said if the left ankle he injured the first weekend in July has recovered sufficiently for him to play next week in the year’s final major.
His chief spokesman said only that rehab is progressing.
One Instagram shows him balancing on his left ankle – without a brace or any support – and turning to catch and heave a weighted ball. Another one Thursday shows him with tape on his left ankle as he takes a full swing with the driver on a practice range.
NBA
Utah Jazz point guard Exum tore ACL in left knee
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz said point guard Dante Exum suffered a torn ACL this week while playing for the Australian National team.
The news release Thursday from the Jazz confirmed what was feared after Exum went down Tuesday.
The 20-year-old was driving into the lane and came to a jump stop when his left knee buckled. His Australian team was playing against the Slovenia National team in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said in the release that their main concern is Exum’s long-term health.
NHL
Police investigating Kane in Buffalo; no charges filed
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The NHL said it is “following developments” of a police investigation involving Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane.
The Blackhawks said they are in the process of gathering information and declined further comment. The Buffalo News first reported the investigation Thursday.
Neighbors of Kane, who lives in Hamburg, New York, in the offseason, told the Chicago Tribune that police arrived at his lakefront property Sunday night and that several plainclothes officers entered his house using flashlights.
At least one wore gloves and was seen taking pictures out front.
Hamburg Police Chief Gregory Wickett would not describe the nature of the investigation.
Wickett says police will provide the information if an arrest is made.
Associated Press
