Zab Judah

The official end of hope for a super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. came Sunday when Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum announced he had signed a deal to stage an alternate Pacquiao bout against Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas. Arum said Pacquiao will earn somewhere between $10 million and $20 million for the welterweight fight against Clottey (35-3), who lost a split decision to Miguel Cotto in his most recent fight in June. Cotto later suffered a 12th-round technical knockout loss to Pacquiao in November, as the Filipino star won his record seventh weight-division world title and probably clinched for the second straight time the honor of fighter of the year.

He clowned, he rabbit punched, he hit after the bell, he hit while holding and it cost Ricardo Mayorga on Saturday night. Not one, but perhaps two huge fights. Not one, but three belts. With referee Tony Orlando subtracting two critical points from Mayorga, the Nicaraguan fighter lost a majority decision to Cory Spinks in front of 12,346 in one of eight title fights held at Boardwalk Hall. Mayorga had already signed to fight Shane Mosley on March 13, contingent on Mayorga winning Saturday night.

The attorney for former WBA super-welterweight champion Miguel Cotto said there is high interest by those angling for his next fight, and three major promoters confirm they are interested in the free agent's next bout. "The phone's ringing off the hook," Cotto attorney Gaby Penagaricano said. Cotto (37-3) was outscored by unanimous decision Saturday night by unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Yet, Mayweather said it was arguably his most difficult fight to date, and the new champion was left swollen and impressed.

A prestigious neurology clinic has launched an unprecedented brain study of professional fighters with the goal of advancing research to improve various treatments for brain damage. "We know what permanent brain damage looks like in its final stages, but we know so little about what causes it and what happens during cumulative trauma," said Maureen Peckman of the Cleveland Clinic. Peckman is coordinating the new study between the clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas and officials with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Ever heard of Paul Fujii? Didn't think so. He's a Hawaiian of Japanese descent who was the last undisputed 140-pound champion, gaining that distinction in 1968. Kostya Tszyu and Zab Judah can relate to the forgotten Fujii. Tszyu and Judah are magnificent fighters with one loss between them in 57 fights. They will be battling to match Fujii's feat in tonight's main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (Showtime, 10 p.m.).

This was supposed to be Timothy Bradley's weekend. Instead, the unbeaten WBC and WBO junior-welterweight champion from Palm Springs has been torched by critics for not accepting a Saturday title unification date against Amir Khan and a $1.5-million-plus payday. "I'm not hurting for money," Bradley said this week. "I've saved my money. I'm in a good position. " Britain's Khan, who'll instead fight veteran Zab Judah in an HBO-televised title bout at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, has accused Bradley (27-0, 11 knockouts)

Since his last fight, Amir Khan has fired his famed trainer Freddie Roach and altered his fighting mind-set — he vows it's all for the better. The crowd Saturday night at the Los Angeles Sports Arena will see if Khan is right. "It's in my blood to get into wars, but I can make it so much easier on myself by just sticking to the boxing, to the game plan," said Khan (26-3, 18 knockouts) this week. A year and a half ago Khan's aggressive style established him as one of boxing's new stars.

The ex-trainer of former three-division world champion boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosley of Pomona says in a sworn declaration filed in federal court Friday that Mosley was fully aware he was using performance-enhancing drugs as he prepared for his victorious 2003 rematch against Oscar De La Hoya. Supporting the previous account of Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO) founder Victor Conte, who is being sued for defamation by Mosley in U.S.

Lindsay Davenport completed a strong tuneup for Wimbledon, sweeping Spain's Magui Serna, 6-2, 6-0, in only 43 minutes Saturday to win the Eastbourne, England, grass-court tournament. "It's not just a warmup for Wimbledon. . . . It's also a tournament victory and a return to the tour," Davenport said. "After you've played so well the day before, you're never sure if you can keep it going, but I was able to do that. I've got to be ecstatic going into Wimbledon now. I can't wait to get back there.

Jason Williams, who led Duke to the national basketball championship last season, was a unanimous selection Tuesday to the Associated Press preseason All-American team, the first player named on every ballot since 1996. The junior guard was joined on the team by two former Southland standouts, Stanford's Casey Jacobsen (Glendora High), a returning first-team All-American, and Kentucky's Tayshaun Prince (Compton Dominguez High).