LAS VEGAS -- Canelo Alvarez chased Erislandy Lara far too long Saturday night to pay much attention afterward to Laras complaint that he won their fight. "You dont win by running, you win by hitting," Alvarez said. "You dont win a fight like that." Lara thought he had done just that, but when the decision came down it was Alvarez whose hand was held aloft. He escaped with a split decision win for his second straight victory since losing last year to Floyd Mayweather Jr. It was a frustrating night for Alvarez, and a tense one for his fans, who filled the MGM Grand arena to watch as Alvarez chased after Lara for 12 rounds before winning the decision. "I wanted to leave a good taste in the mouth of my fans. I came to fight," Alvarez said. "He came to run." Alvarez had all he could handle against Lara, whose constant movement frustrated the Mexican fighter and often caused him to miss wildly with right hands. In the end, Alvarez won on two scorecards, 115-113 and 117-111, to pull out a narrow decision. The third judge had Lara ahead 115-113, while The Associated Press scored the fight 114-114. "Everyone knows i won the fight, no matter what they say," Lara said. "I didnt respect him before the fight and that hasnt changed. I dont respect him now." Alvarez was favoured against Lara, who left his native Cuba to come to the U.S. and fight as a pro. But Lara provided a stiff test in a fight that was up for grabs in the late rounds. Lara raised his hands in victory as the final bell sounded, certain he had done enough to win. A few minutes later, he leaned on the ropes, staring out in disbelief as the decision was announced. Punch stats reflected how close the fight was, and how few punches were actually landed. Alvarez was credited with landing 97 of 415 punches, while Lara landed 107 of 386. "It was a difficult, tough fight, the way everybody expected it to be," said Oscar De La Hoya, who promotes Alvarez. "Youre always worried about a boxer who was literally running, literally running." Alvarez acknowledged before the bout that fighting someone with a style like Laras was risky. Alvarez could not find Mayweather when he moved in their fight last year, and he had almost as much trouble cornering Lara in a fight where no title was at stake but one that was dangerous for both competitors. Lara was a moving target from the opening bell, going sideways and backward, content to let Alvarez chase him. The strategy worked early on as Alvarez had trouble cutting off the ring and often threw wild right hands that caught nothing but air. By the fourth round, Alvarez (44-1-1) began to have more success finding his elusive opponent. He was relentless in pressuring Lara, who was content to move about the ring, stopping occasionally to throw a right hand followed by a left. The heavily pro-Alvarez crowd of 14,239 at the MGM Grand began growing frustrated with the action midway through the fight, booing Lara for refusing to stand and trade punches with the Mexican favourite. Lara was cut on the right eye in the seventh round by a left uppercut, and spent much of the later rounds wiping blood from his eye. He kept moving, though, and Alvarez kept chasing him, drawing huge roars from the crowd on the few occasions he managed to trap him on the ropes. Lara (19-2-2) kept frustrating Alvarez through the end of the fight, winning some late rounds as he landed counter left hands after first making Alvarez miss with his right. Lara, who fled Cuba to begin a pro career, came into the fight with only one loss -- and it was a disputed one. Most in boxing considered him the equal of Alvarez, though he is relatively unknown compared to the Mexican star who fought Mayweather last year in boxings richest fight ever. Lara got the fight after calling Alvarez out, despite worries by promoter Oscar De La Hoya that the Cubans southpaw style would be difficult for Alvarez, who struggled against Mayweather in his only loss. Lara holds a piece of the 154-pound title, though it was not at stake in the fight, which was fought at 155 pounds. . The England international had both goals in TFCs season-opening 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. . Orlov, who scored two goals in the game, was assessed a major penalty for boarding on the play. The Flyers scored once on the power play and again with the extra attacker with 65 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.
http://www.cheapnhlsabresjerseysauthent ... lny-jersey. Marek Hamsik, who had earlier missed a penalty, headed Napoli in front in the 23rd minute and Pandev added a second goal five minutes from halftime. Alessandro Matri got Juventus back into the game just after the break but Pandev was on hand to score again in the 68th. . As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events. . - Roger Federer squandered a big lead and lost to No. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars continued revamping their defensive line Thursday by signing two free agents and bringing back their best pass rusher from last season. The Jaguars signed former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Ziggy Hood and re-signed veteran Jason Babin, who led the team with 7 1/2 sacks in 2013. Those moves came five days after Jacksonville signed former Seattle defensive end Red Bryant. Together, they could drastically improve a defence that tied for last in the league with 31 sacks last season. "Hopefully get with these guys and take this thing to a whole new level," Hood said. Clemons is the gem of the group. Seattle released him in a cost-cutting move Wednesday; he was scheduled to make $7.5 million in 2014. His cross-country trek to Jacksonville reunites him with former Seahawks defensive co-ordinator and current Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley. "I think we could build something special here," said Clemons, who signed a four-year deal reportedly worth $18 million. After failing to find success in Oakland and Philadelphia, Clemons thrived in Seattle under Bradley. He was the teams top pass rusher from 2010 to 2012, recording 33 1/2 sacks and getting at least 11 each year. Last season, Clemons had only 4 1/2 sacks as a deeper line rotation took away some of his opportunities. Clemons also was coming off a torn knee ligament sustained in the 2012 playoffs. He had 3 1/2 sacks his first five games of 2013, but had just one sack the final nine games of the regular season. He was, however, at his best in the Super Bowl, finishing with three tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack and a pass defended. The 27-year-old Hood had 140 tackles and 11 11/2 sacks in five seasons with the Steelers.dddddddddddd A college standout at Missouri, Hood was the 32nd overall pick in the 2009 draft. But he never really felt comfortable playing end in Pittsburghs 3-4 scheme. He will move back inside for the Jaguars and play a penetrating 3-technique. "Ive been blessed with a second opportunity to come here and play in a scheme, a scheme I believe in, one that I feel is right for me," Hood said. "I have a good feeling in coming over here." Much like every other free agent to sign with Jacksonville in the past week, Hood said Bradleys engaging personality and high-energy attitude were key factors in his decision. "He was bouncing from wall to wall, room to room, side to side," Hood said. "I like their philosophy and how theyre going to use me as well. What better place can I be than here? I fell in love with it and I think thats what made me turn here more than anything else." Babin voided the final two years of his contract Monday, becoming a free agent before the Jaguars cut him. "They were gracious enough to let me do it for the PR," said Babin, who was due to make $6 million in 2014. His salary was more than the rebuilding team was willing to pay for a 33-year-old end no longer in his prime. But pairing him with Clemons and third-year pro Andre Branch -- the Jaguars also could add another pass-rusher with the No. 3 pick in the draft -- might prolong Babins career. "I guess I can say it now: This was my first choice all along," said Babin, an 11-year pro who admittedly didnt want to move his family again. "We knew what we wanted, and they knew what they wanted. We met somewhere in the middle. This is where I want to finish my career out." ' ' '
