gave Rienzo an early cushion, from corse178's blog
INGLEWOOD, Calif. Justin Lawler Jersey . -- Joe Smith Jr. stopped Bernard Hopkins 53 seconds into the eighth round of their WBC international light heavyweight title fight Saturday night.Smith used a six-punch combination to send Hopkins through the ropes and on to the floor, effectively ending the 51-year-olds 28-year boxing career.Smith successfully defended his title when Hopkins was unable to return to the ring after 20 seconds. Hopkins hit his head on the way down and twisted his right ankle -- he cited the ankle as the reason he couldnt finish. A WBC official said the injuries incurred forced a TKO.I knew he was a true champion, and if he didnt get injured hed be back here, Smith said. I came here to do my job. This is my coming out party, too. I had to finish him. It was either my career was going to end and his was going to end, but I needed mine to continue.Hopkins was reluctant to accept the outcome, initially claiming that he was shoved out of the ring.I was throwing the right hand and a combination and then using the rope as an offensive as Im known for, and making a mess, Hopkins said. He got frustrated, and I might have gotten glazed with a left hook and next thing I know he was throwing me out of the ring.The reason I said Im upset they are giving Smith the TKO is because the momentum threw the ropes, he added. I didnt dive through the ropes.Hopkins (56-8-2) was looking to wrap his career with one last showing of defensive-minded boxing in front of an enthusiastic, star-studded crowd at the Forum. Instead, he finished in the same manor he started, with a loss.This is my last fight, I promised it would be and you come to that point in life where it is final and Im happy with my retirement, Hopkins said. I know the fans will know I went out as a soldier, fighting the toughest, baddest opponents. Im not saying I agree, Im not in denial -- Joe was a tough, heavy hitting fighter.Wearing his old Executioner shorts as a throwback to his earlier fighting days, Hopkins looked his age early as Smith (23-1, 19 KOs) was the aggressor to start. Hopkins regained some footing in the fifth and sixth rounds but Smith gained momentum and took it with him through the eighth, when he pummeled Hopkins in a corner and sent him through the ropes.I had seen him fall, and I kept hitting him until I saw him go out, and I landed that left hook until he went out, Smith said. I knew he had time to go out, but I hit him with four or five clean shots and they were good shots on the button.In his prime, Hopkins won a record 20 consecutive middleweight title fights. He became the oldest-ever champion when he defended his light-heavyweight belt at 49. However, Hopkins hadnt fought in more than two years, losing to Sergey Kovalev on Nov. 8, 2014, in his last bout.Oleksandr Usyk (11-0), a 2016 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist out of Ukraine, successfully defended his WBO cruiserweight title with a knockout of Thabiso Mchunu (17-3) with a knockout in the ninth round, his 10th.Local El Monte product Joseph Diaz (23-0), wearing Lakers colors in their former home, defended his NABF featherweight title, beating Horacio Garcia (30-2-1) of Mexico in the NABF featherweight title by unanimous decision. Brian Allen Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Rams Stitched Jerseys . LUCIE, Fla. http://www.authenticramsshopnfl.com/ogbonnia-okoronkwo-jersey/ . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2).CLEVELAND -- Following Clevelands comeback, there was more emotion than usual in the Indians clubhouse. Vinnie Pestano is on the move -- to the minors. As reporters spoke to Ryan Raburn, whose pinch-hit, two-run single in the eighth inning rallied the Indians to their sixth straight win, 7-4 over the freefalling Chicago White Sox, Pestano, the clubs popular setup man, stood near his locker with a stunned look on his face. Several of Pestanos teammates approached the right-hander, who stopped packing his bags to share hugs with Chris Perez, Jason Giambi and others. Asked what was going on, Pestano told reporters to speak with manager Terry Francona or general manager Chris Antonetti. Pestano will be optioned Wednesday to Triple-A Columbus, a somewhat stunning move for the Indians, who acquired left-hander Marc Rzepczynski from St. Louis before the game. Pestano has struggled this season -- 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in 34 games -- and had one stint on the disabled list but had been pitching better lately. Antonetti hinted the Indians may make another move before Wednesdays deadline, saying before the game that "theres a lot that can happen in the next 24 hours." In the meantime, the Indians are rolling. They moved 10 games over .500 and won their ninth straight at Progressive Field. Raburn, batting for Jason Giambi, who won Monday nights game with a pinch-hit homer in the ninth, singled off Matt Lindstrom with two outs as the Indians stormed back and won for the 11th time in 15 games. "I got a pitch I was able to do something with and was able to get a hit up the middle," said Raburn, downplaying his latest clutch hit. Raburn is batting .349 (22 of 63) with 22 RBIs with two outs. Hes also hitting .462 (12 of 26) with four homers and 19 RBIs with runners in scoring position this season. "Im just trying to get a good pitch to hit, not try to do too much," said Raburn, who signed with the Indians as a free agent after a rough 2012 season with Detroit. "You have to realize the pressure is on the pitcher to get an out so you just go up there and battle. Its one of those things where I couldnt do nothing right last year but now I almost cant do nothing wrong." Yan Gomes added a two-run single in the eighth as the Indians stayed within 2 1-2 game of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. The Indians were in danger of losing to Brazilian rookie Andre Rienzo in his debut before coming back against Donnie Veal (1-2), who started the eighth. Clevelands comeback spoiled a solid outing by Rienzo, who started in place of Jake Peavy. Rienzo, the first Brazilian-born player to pitch in the major leagues, did not allow an earned and only five hits in seven innings. "It was fun seeing him pitch," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "The end stunk but he did well." Bryan Shaw (2-2) got one out in the eighth and closer Chris Perez worked the ninth for his 15th save -- and ninth straight. Rienzo was recalled earlier in the day from the minors as the White Sox pushed back Peavys start one day in case they were able to trade him before Wednesdays deadline. They worked out a deal late Tuesday night, sending Peavy to the Boston Red Sox as part of a three-team deal that included thhe Tigers. Joseph Noteboom Jersey. In exchange for Peavy, Chicago received outfielder Avisail Garcia from Detroit as well as minor league infielder Cleulius Rondon and pitchers Francelis Montas and Jeffery Wendelken from the Red Sox. Adam Dunn drove in two runs for the White Sox, who dropped 24 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 29, 1989. Trailing 4-3, the Indians scored four runs in the eighth. Veal gave up a one-out single to Asdrubal Cabrera, and one out later, Carlos Santana singled. Pinch-runner Drew Stubbs stole second before Raburn, who has been clutch all season for Francona, singled to centre off Lindstrom to make it 5-4. After Lonnie Chisenhall singled, Gomes came through with his double. With Peavy in waiting mode before he was traded, Rienzo gave the White Sox a glimpse of their future. The right-hander seemed unfazed in facing one of baseballs hottest teams. He was only in trouble once, when the Indians scored three times in the fifth to tie it. But Rienzo quickly shook it off and was in position to get a win before the Indians came back against Chicagos bullpen. Along with dangling Peavy, the White Sox have reportedly shopped outfielder Alex Rios. He left in the eighth after fouling a pitch off his left foot. Rios will undergo X-rays, but he doesnt believe the injury is serious. The White Sox took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on Dayan Viciedos two-out RBI single. Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir allowed four runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. Staked to a 3-0 lead, Rienzo looked poised while making history as Brazils first big-league pitcher. In the third, he faced Indians catcher and fellow countryman Gomes, who dribbled a single through the middle for Clevelands second hit. Once he reached first, the Indians catcher shared a smile with Rienzo, who moments later tried to pick his friend from Brazils national team off the bag. Rienzo showed his full repertoire in the fourth, striking out Nick Swisher, All-Star Jason Kipnis and Cabrera on just 11 pitches. He started off Cabrera with two curves before blowing a high fastball past Clevelands shortstop. However, Rienzo was hurt by two walks in the fifth, when the Indians scored three unearned runs to tie it 3-all. The White Sox gave Rienzo an early cushion, scoring two runs in the first and one in the second to take some pressure him. Dunn hit a two-out, two-run double in the first as Chicago ended Clevelands streak of scoring first at 16 games, a franchise record. In the second, Gordon Beckham ended a 0-for-20 slide with a one-out double and scored when Josh Phegley ended a 0-for-14 slump with an RBI single. NOTES: Giambi was awed to learn his homer Monday was historic. The 42-year-old passed Hank Aaron as the oldest player to ever hit a walk-off homer. "Thats pretty unbelievable," Giambi said of breaking Aarons mark. "Its unfathomable. Im just grateful, and I thank God Im still playing, to have this opportunity to be here." Giambi was 45 days older than Aaron, who hit his 754th career homer on July 11, 1976, for Milwaukee. ... Indians RHP Josh Tomlin, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery last August, is ahead of schedule. Francona said its "possible" Tomlin could pitch for Cleveland in September. Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale NFL Hoodies Cheap Jerseys 2019 NFL T-shirts From China Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys Throwback ' ' '
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