By Times staff writer, Times wire
Published November 10, 2004
Instead of uniting the light heavyweight division, Tampa's Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson will divide it by relinquishing their belts and fighting for a lot more money on Dec. 18.
Tarver, the WBC champion, and Johnson, the IBF champ, have decided against fighting mandatory challengers and told both sanctioning bodies Friday they can have their belts back.
Calling it a difficult but necessary decision, the two will fight in Los Angeles with the winner claiming the unofficial title as best light heavyweight. Both fighters last wins were knockouts over Roy Jones Jr.
"Since my second bout with Roy Jones Jr. ... my world has been turned upside down," Tarver wrote to the WBC. "It is with great regret that I must inform you that I have concluded that the best route for me and my family is to fight Glen Johnson."
Neither fighter is young enough to fight a string of mandatory challengers, risking their titles while waiting on the big payday. Tarver was originally scheduled to fight No. 1 contender Paul Briggs in December.
Tarver will turn 36 this month; the journeyman Johnson is 35. Tarver also has had some financial setbacks, filing for bankruptcy this year and changing management.
- JOHN C. COTEY, Times staff writer
TENNIS: Mistrial declared in death of Williams' half-sister
A Compton, Calif., judge declared a mistrial in the case of a man charged with killing the half sister of Serena and Venus Williams. A separate jury deadlocked last week on the co-defendant in the murder case. Jurors told the court that five of them had voted to convict Robert E. Maxfield, 24, while six believed he was not guilty and one juror couldn't decide. The suspect was accused of shooting and killing Yetunde Price, 31, of Corona.
DAVIS CUP: Former No. 1s and French Open champions Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya will lead Spain against the United States in next month's final.
ET CETERA
COLLEGES: Former Ridgewood basketball player Crystal Ayers will sign with Jacksonville today, her father, Goldie, said. Ayers, a three-time Sunshine Athletic Conference player of the year, will play at Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Niceville this season, then move to Jacksonville for 2005-06. ... Host UF faces UCF Friday at 3 p.m. in the opening round of the NCAA Soccer Tournament. FSU plays Boston College at 5:30 p.m.
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Storm signed offensive/defensive lineman Omar Smith, who played 12 games at center for the New York Giants in 2002-03. GOLF: The European Tour has scheduled another tournament in mainland China, the Johnnie Walker Classic in Shanghai from April 21-24.
AUTO RACING: The British and French Grand Prix races will be on the calendar next season after team directors reached a deal with Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.
OLYMPICS: Irish show jumper Cian O'Connor could lose his gold medal because a backup blood sample from Waterford Crystal tested positive for banned substances.
HORSES: Graded-stakes winner Santa Catarina was sold for $4.8-million during the second day of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington, Ky.
SOCCER: The MLS Colorado Rapids fired coach Tim Hankinson, two weeks after the team was eliminated from the playoffs with a 2-0 loss to Los Angeles.
