MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2015 SPORTS Thurman, Broner win on prime time debut LAS VEGAS: Keith Thurman and Robert remained unbeaten in 25 fights with a Guerrero gave a prime-time television performance that could put him in a big audience something to watch Saturday pay-per-view fight his next time out. night. Thurman won a piece of the welter- The fight was the first of 20 cards weight title with a bruising decision win scheduled this year for the Premier over Guerrero in the debut of a new box- Boxing Champions series put together by ing series on network television. And he manager Al Haymon and featuring his did it with the kind of fight that had the fighters. It was also the first of five sched- crowd on its feet and gave a much need- uled Saturday prime-time bouts on NBC. ed boost to boxing in the first prime-time And while it was created for television fights on NBC in 30 years. with an all-star cast of announcers that “That’s kind of performance that wins included Al Michaels, Marv Albert and the hearts of fans even when you don’t Laila Ali, it also gave the crowd of 10,106 win the fight,” Guerrero said. “The fans at the MGM Grand something different, love that and that’s what boxing is all too. Boxers were introduced on a stage at about.” one end of the arena, and there were new The fight was the highlight of a card high definition monitors above the ring to that also included a win by Adrien Broner show the action. Unlike most boxing over John Molina in a super lightweight events, the fights also went off on time to bout. But while fans booed that fight for accommodate television. lack of action, they cheered from the In the first fight, Broner boxed his way opening bell as Thurman took apart to an easy win over Molina, using his left Guerrero in a fight that had a little bit of jab to pile up points. Despite winning something for every fan - except a knock- every round on two of the three score- out. “I know I was hurting him each and cards, though, Broner was booed by many every round,” Thurman said. “But he’s a in the crowd at the MGM Grand for not veteran and knew how to pace himself trying for a knockout in the super light- and stay a little out of my range.” weight bout. Thurman knocked Guerrero down in Broner, trying to re-establish himself the ninth round and won easily on all after a loss in 2012 to Marcos Maidana, LAS VEGAS: Keith Thurman connects with a left to Robert Guerrero during their boxing match, Saturday in Las Vegas. Thurman won by unani- three ringside scorecards to capture the used his superior speed to keep Molina mous decision. — AP WBA version of the 147-pound crown. But off balance, rarely allowing him to land Guerrero fought hard and wasn’t afraid to more than a single punch at a time. The trade punches even while bleeding from former three-time champion was so far a cut over his left eye late in the bout. ahead in the final round that he did little Serbia, France sail into Thurman landed 211 of 598 punches but dance away from Molina, finally rais- to 104 of 497 for Guerrero, but that didn’t ing his hands in triumph with 10 seconds tell the whole story. Thurman’s punches still left in the fight. were much harder and seemed to shake “I know I lived up to the hype,” Broner Davis Cup last eight Guerrero on several occasions, though said. “He was swinging for the fences and I they didn’t deter him from pressing the stayed dangerous. I felt like I beat all odds fight even after being knocked down and tonight.” Ringside punch stats reflected KRALJEVO: Novak Djokovic spurred Serbia to a 3-0 on Andy Murray beating Isner in the first reverse No. 4 Kei Nishikori. Belgium’s Ruben Bemelmans nearly knocked out in the ninth round. both Broner’s dominance and the ineffec- win over neighbors Croatia in the first round of the singles. The winner’s reward will be a last-eight and Niels Desein recovered from a set down to “I keep fighting my heart out and that’s tiveness of Molina’s attack. Broner threw Davis Cup on Saturday and they will be joined in meeting with France, who dismissed Germany after beat Michael Lammer and Adrien Bossel 1-6 6-3 6-2 what the fans like about me,” Guerrero twice as many punches (502-249), and the quarter-finals by an equally rampant France. Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut brushed aside 6-2, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead over the holders said. Thurman won every round on one landed four times as many (219-54) in Britain’s progress was put on hold after they lost an Benjamin Becker and Andre Begemann 6-4 6-3 6-2. ahead of Sunday’s reverse singles. ringside scorecard and 10 rounds on the winning a decision that was never in enthralling doubles to the United States on Brazil topped Argentina in straight sets, going up Australia missed a chance to seal their tie other two, using thudding punches to doubt after the early rounds. Broner said Saturday. Holders Switzerland, missing Roger 2-1, as Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares beat Diego against the Czechs after Jiri Vesely and Adam keep Guerrero away. Still, he was never he was not concerned about the boos, Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, fell behind 2-1 at Schwartzman and Carlos Berlocq 7-5 6-3 6-4. Pavlasek beat Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth in a 1- able to put him away and Guerrero came something commonplace early in his Belgium while the Czech Republic hauled them- Berlocq was playing a day after losing a five-set sin- 6 7-6(2) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-2 rollercoaster. back in the 10th round to land some big career. selves back against Australia. gles match. The win puts Brazil in position to The Australians lost the fourth set tiebreak punches of his own while Thurman was “I knew walking into the arena 85 per- World number one Djokovic, who was a late advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since before fizzling out in the fifth to hand the Czechs a on the ropes. “Robert Guerrero was a cent of the fans were against me,” he said. replacement for Viktor Troicki, teamed up with 2001 if they can win one of Sunday’s singles match- lifeline. “This was a tough match but we kept fight- tremendous warrior,” Thurman said. “He “But I know I made some new fans around Nenad Zimonjic to blow away Marin Draganja and es. Canada went 2-1 up on Japan as Daniel Nestor ing and managed to turn it around,” said Vesely. “At was there the whole way.” the world.” Franko Skugor 6-3 6-4 6-1 in Serbia’s central city of and Vasek Pospisil beat Go Soeda and Yasutaka the end of the fourth set and the whole of the fifth It was a signature win for Thurman, Broner, who improved to 30-1, was Kraljevo. The home fans, who roared on the Serbs Uchiyama 7-5 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-3, setting up a Sunday Adam played perfectly.” Italy took a 2-1 lead at and not only because he was showcased paid $1.2 million, while Molina (27-6) but also gave the Croatians a warm reception showdown between world No. 6 Milos Raonic and Kazakhstan. — Reuters on the top of the television card. He beat earned $450,000. Copyright 2015 The throughout the tie, were given a scare in the sec- a fighter who fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. Associated Press. All rights reserved. This ond set when Djokovic received medical treatment in 2012, lasting all 12 rounds though material may not be published, broadcast, for a cut on his right hand. dropping a lopsided decision. And he rewritten or redistributed. —AP But they were relieved to see him carry on and produce one of his best doubles performances as 38-year-old Zimonjic rolled back the years. “Novak played unbelievably well today and we are delight- Diniz sets new 20km ed to have sealed a quarter-final spot,” Serbia coach Bogdan Obradovic said. Djokovic added: “We decided that I should walk world record come in for Viktor because that was the best com- bination in this moment. “Being 2-0 up after the opening day was a mas- sive confidence boost and we did everything right today, from the first to the last point.” Having won both their singles against the Americans after Andy Murray beat Donald Young and James Ward staged a comeback against John Isner on Friday, Britain nearly conjured another impressive fightback in the doubles. Murray’s brother Jamie and Dominic Inglot found them- selves two sets down against the world’s top ranked pairing of Bob and Mike Bryan but, cheered on by a boisterous crowd in Glasgow, the British duo fought back. As American captain Jim Courier watched on anxiously from the sidelines, the Bryan twins eventually stretched the tie into a third day with a 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-7(8) 9-7 victory. Leading 2-1 ahead of Sunday’s mouth-watering KRALJEVO: Viktor Troicki of Serbia returns the ball against Croatia’s Mate Delic during their climax, Britain will now rest the bulk of their hopes Davis Cup World Group first round tennis match between Serbia and Croatia.