Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao confirm bout
NEWSWIRE
They will meet in a 12-round, non-title fight Ddc. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao made it official Thursday: they will meet in a 12-round, non-title welterweight fight on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The match with World Boxing Council lightweight champion Pacquiao was widely expected to be the 35-year-old De La Hoya's last fight of his distinguished career.
But De La Hoya was a bit vague on his retirement plans. "Let's just say my foot got caught in the door," De La Hoya said when asked if he's leaving the door open for future fights.
De La Hoya admitted he'll need to work on his hand speed to counter the smaller but swifter Filipino.
Pacquiao, 29, watched De La Hoya's last fight against Steve Forbes in May, and says he believes he'll have more of an advantage than just speed. "I'm faster and stronger than him, and I'm younger," Pacquiao said.
The Mirage Hotel and Casino opened betting with De La Hoya as an 8-5 favorite.
--
Dan Arritt
BASKETBALL
Oklahoma State's Riley suspended for fighting
Oklahoma State point guard Andrea Riley, the Big 12 Conference's top scorer, has been reprimanded and suspended by the NCAA for fighting with a Louisiana State player during their postseason game last season.
Riley's one-game suspension, which would be served in the first round of the NCAA tournament, stems from an incident involving Erica White in the regional semifinals. Riley appeared to take a swipe at White's head in the second half, although a foul wasn't called.
Houston Rockets forward Chuck Hayes underwent surgery to repair a broken nose. The 6-foot-6 Hayes, Houston's third-leading rebounder last season at 5.4 a game, was hurt during a workout.
SOCCER
Galaxy, Chivas players added to U.S. roster
Galaxy players Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis and Chivas USA player Sacha Kljestan were called up for the U.S. national team's World Cup qualifying games against Cuba in Havana on Sept. 6 and against Trinidad and Tobago in Bridgeview, Ill., on Sept. 10.
That means the three will miss their clubs' Sept. 6 MLS games against Real Salt Lake and Toronto, respectively.
If the Galaxy's David Beckham is called up by England, as expected, for its World Cup qualifiers on the road against Andorra and Croatia on Sept. 6 and 10, he, too, would miss the Real Salt Lake match.
