DENVER’S GONZALES STUNS CUBAN STAR
It was supposed to be a cakewalk for Robeisy Ramirez — an easy professional debut for the two-time Olympic boxing gold medalist from Cuba.
Someone didn’t pass that message to Denver’s Adan Gonzales.
Gonzales, 22, stunned the boxing world Saturday at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, first by knocking down Ramirez with a left hook early in the first round, then by holding on to win the featherweight bout via split decision.
“He’s just another man,” Gonzales (5-2-2) said in an interview after the fight. He added: “In the first round, he felt it. He felt it right away, and I didn’t come to play at all. I’m here to stay. You’re going to see some more of me soon.”
Ramirez (0-1) won gold in the flyweight division at the 2012 London Games and then took home the top prize at bantamweight at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. He defected from Cuba in 2018 and signed a multiyear contract with Top Rank this past May.
Nuggets sign G League all-star Dozier.
The Nuggets signed PJ Dozier to a training-camp contract with the potential to make the roster or earn a two-way spot, a league source told The Denver Post’s Mike Singer.
The Nuggets are trying to maintain flexibility by keeping the 15th guaranteed spot open heading into the season. The expectation is that secondround pick Bol Bol will sign a twoway contract, but nothing is official.
The 6-foot-6 Dozier played on a two-way contract with Boston last year, where he appeared in six NBA games and spent most of the season with the Maine Red Claws as a G League all-star with averages of 21.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. In his rookie season the year prior, Dozier appeared in two games with Oklahoma City and 43 with the team’s G League affiliate, the Blue Stats.
Dozier was a central figure on South Carolina’s 2017 Final Four team, averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a sophomore. He went undrafted that summer before eventually signing a two-way contract with the Thunder.
NCAA rescinds ruling on agents.
POLIS» The NCAA backtracked
I NDIA N A on new certification standards and will no longer require a bachelor’s degree for a sports agent to represent Division I men’s basketball players who declare for the NBA draft while maintaining college eligibility.
The requirement drew criticism last week when the certification standards were revealed, including a social media blast by NBA star LeBron James. The requirement was quickly dubbed the “Rich Paul Rule” in reference to James’ agent, who does not have a college degree.
Lowry pulls out of World Cup.
Kyle Lowry of the NBA champion Toronto Raptors withdrew from the pool of candidates USA Basketball is considering to take to the FIBA World Cup later this month.
Lowry said his surgically repaired thumb isn’t ready to allow him to participate in on-court workouts.
Puig drops appeal of suspension.
ND» Indians outfielder Yasiel CLEVEL A
Puig dropped the appeal for his three-game suspension for his involvement in a brawl when he was with Cincinnati.
Puig began serving his ban Monday night when the Indians played Boston.
Markgraf new GM of USWNT.
Former defender Kate Markgraf has been named general manager of the U.S. women’s national team, U.S. Soccer announced.
Markgraf will oversee the search for a coach to replace Jill Ellis, who is leaving the team in October. Ellis is stepping away from the job after leading the United States to back-toback Women’s World Cup titles.