Parker holds off Fury to keep WBO title
MANCHESTER, England — Joseph Parker prevented the Fury family from reclaiming a world heavyweight title by beating Hughie Fury by a majority decision Saturday, with the judges rewarding the New Zealander’s attacking approach in an uneventful fight.
Parker failed to land many clean punches but never was in danger against Fury, who came with a game plan of negating Parker’s power with his movement and foot speed and then counterattacking.
Two judges scored the fight 118-110 in favor of Parker; the other judge scored it 114-114.
“I felt I won, put on the pressure,” Parker said. “It was a close fight, but I felt I came out on top.”
It was the second successful defense of his belt, leaving Parker (24-0) to look ahead to a potential fight against World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion Anthony Joshua. Dave Higgins, Parker’s promoter, said the fight could be arranged for the summer of 2018 at a big stadium in Britain.
“I don’t care who I fight next, everyone and anyone,” said Parker, who was fighting in the UK for the first time and plans for more fights here.
Hughie was attempting to match the achievement of his cousin, Tyson, who beat Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 to win the WBA, IBF and World Boxing Organization belts. Tyson was in Hughie’s corner at Manchester Arena and leapt into the ring after the fight was over, mobbing his cousin in an attempt to convince the judges.
It didn’t work. The Fury camp said it will be appealing the result.
“Disgusted to be honest,” Fury said. “They’ve ruined peoples’ lives tonight. I didn’t think the score was right. I thought I won the fight easy.”
MOTOR SPORTS Reddick’s first win a big one
Tyler Reddick crashed the opener of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta by running away with his first career victory.
The 21-year-old driver led 66 laps, including the final 39, and beat Brennan Poole to the finish line by 14.540 seconds.
Justin Allgaier, who entered the race as the No. 2 playoff seed, rallied back from a flat tire that put him two laps down early in the race to finish third. In other news: • Christopher Bell pulled away down the stretch to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. Bell won the playoff opener for the series and earned an automatic spot in the next round. Bell won his fifth race of the season and the Kyle Busch Motorsports driver stamped himself as the favorite for the championship. He won all three stages and holds a 25-point lead in the standings. Bell was the only playoff driver to finish in the top five. Ryan Truex couldn’t hold off Bell over the final laps and finished second.
TENNIS Wozniacki makes Pan Pacific final
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki upset top-ranked Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the final of the Pan Pacific Open at Tokyo.
Wozniacki, a champion in the tournament in 2010 and 2016, converted six of seven break points to reach her seventh final of 2017.
Playing in her first tournament since earning the WTA’s top ranking, Wimbledon champ Muguruza had 29 unforced errors to drop the final 10 games of the match.
The sixth-ranked Wozniacki will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Sunday’s final. Pavlyuchenkova rallied from being down 3-0 in the final set to beat former No. 1 Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-4.
PRO BASKETBALL Sparks seek title repeat
The Los Angeles Sparks are trying to become the first team to repeat as WNBA champions in 15 years, but they will have to beat a Minnesota Lynx team that has been in the finals six of the last seven seasons.
Los Angeles beat Minnesota in five games last season to end the Lynx’s hopes at a repeat championship. Minnesota now can return the favor this year. Both franchises are in pursuit of their fourth WNBA title, which would tie them with the Comets for the most in league history.
The last team to repeat as champions was the Los Angeles Sparks back in 2001 and 2002.
Game 1 of the best-offive series is Sunday at Minneapolis.
From wire reports