Mayweather, Laila Ali among those elected to Boxing Hall
CANASTOTA, N.Y. » Floyd Mayweather, who captured 11 world titles in five weight divisions and retired unbeaten, former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, and Laila Ali have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Class of 2021 announced Tuesday also includes former Olympic champ Andre Ward, Ann Wolfe, Marian Trimiar, and Dr. Margaret Goodman. Elected posthumously were: lightweight champion Davey Moore, Jackie Tonawanda, cut man Freddie Brown, manager-trainer Jackie McCoy, journalist George Kimball and television executive Jay Larkin.
Honorees were selected by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. Induction day is scheduled for June 13 and also will include last year’s class, which was postponed by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Class of 2020 includes: Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Christy Martin, Lucia Rijker, Barbara Buttrick, Frank Erne, Paddy Ryan, Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva, Dan Goossen, Bernard Fernandez and Thomas Hauser.
Mayweather compiled an 84-6 amateur record that included three National Golden Gloves titles and a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. He turned pro in 1996 and captured his titles in five weight division.
Ali also retired unbeaten with a 24-0 record (21 KOs) that included a 2003 win over Christy Martin. The 5-10 Ali used a precise jab and powerful right hand to register an 87.5 knockout percentage, living up to her nickname, “She Bee Stingin’.”
Lacroix, architect of 2 Avs Stanley Cup titles, dies at 72
Pierre Lacroix, the astute executive who was the architect of two Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup championship teams, has died. He was 72.
The Avalanche confirmed his death Sunday. No cause of death was given.
Lacroix was a driving force behind turning the Avalanche into a perennial power after the team relocated from Quebec to Denver for the 1995-96 season. The Avalanche hoisted the ‘96 Stanley Cup Trophy in their first season in the Mile High City and again in 2001.
Known for his shrewd trades, Lacroix struck a deal with Montreal to acquire Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy during the ’95-96 season. It paid off with the city of Denver’s first major sports championship.
In another big move soon after, La croix matched a large contract offer made to Hall of Fame forward Joe Sakic that pretty much assured he would wear an Avalanche sweater for the rest of his career.
Track official banned for giving watches to voters
MONACO» The governing body of track and field banned one of its former officials for giving out watches to prospective voters.
Ahmad Al Kamali, the president of the United Arab Emirates track federation, was a World Athletics council member until last year when he was suspended shortly before a vote on whether to make him a vice president.
The WA ethics board banned Al Kamali for six months after he admitted to giving out watches to African track officials during a conference in 2015. He was preparing to run for re-election as a council member later that year.
Al Kamali disputed a claim from former Olympic 5,000-meter champion Said Aouita, who said he had seen expensive Rolex watches and piles of cash in Al Kamali’s suitcase and that his assistant said the watches would be left on the African officials’ beds.
Judge approves settlement in women’s sports case at Brown
PROVIDENCE, R.I. » A federal judge on Tuesday approved a settlement between Brown University and student-athletes who had challenged the Ivy League school’s decision to drop several women’s varsity sports.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. signed off on the agreement, ending more than two decades of legal battles centering on gender discrimination in collegiate athletics.
The settlement originally announced in September restores the women’s equestrian and women’s fencing teams to varsity status, and calls for an end to a 1998 legal agreement ensuring gender equity in varsity sports at Brown on Aug. 31, 2024.
It stemmed from a legal challenge in June to the Providence, Rhode Island school’s decision to reduce several women’s varsity sports teams to club status. Several men’s sports were also reduced to club status, although some were later restored.