BRIEFLY

Urquidez Fight Canceled

It was billed as “Thunder and Lightning” and was the first time the California State Athletic Commission had sanctioned a fight card including both boxers and kick-boxers. When canceled Thursday evening, it turned out to be a disappointment to some, an embarrassment to others and a stormy experience for everyone involved.

Kick-boxing champion Benny (the Jet) Urquidez was to square off against Tom LaRoche for the World Karate Assn. welterweight title as part of a double-main event Sunday at the Sports Arena. Also on the card were three boxing matches, featuring World Boxing Assn. bantamweight champion Richard Sandoval, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Paul Gonzales and silver medalist Hector Lopez.

Muhammad Ali was honorary chairman and much of the proceeds were to be donated to the American Heart Assn.

Promoter Gerald Rodgers canceled the event late Thursday evening.

“It’s a shocker,” said Blinky Rodriguez, who is the brother-in-law of Urquidez and his business partner. “It sure unplugged Benny’s high voltage.”

Rodriguez was reluctant to place blame for the cancellation.

“I don’t want to sling mud in anyone’s direction,” he said. “Gerald (Rodgers) was honorable enough to call us. He wasn’t hiding from anybody. I started feeling something in the air a few days ago.

“It’s a big letdown for everybody.”

Rodgers could not be reached for comment.

Rodriguez said the Urquidez-LaRoche match has been rescheduled for Nov. 16 at Devonshire Downs in Northridge.

Information: The Jet Center, (818) 780-6774.

Raiders Re-Sign Jensen

Former Cal Lutheran College quarterback Russ Jensen was re-signed by the Los Angeles Raiders Wednesday and placed on the injured reserve list.

Jensen had been cut two weeks ago while on injured reserve with injuries to his shoulder, elbow and thumb. That left the Raiders open to a player’s union grievance from Jensen for being cut while injured and unable to perform.

Whether Jensen ends up seeing action is uncertain. The Raiders signed free-agent Mike Moroski on Wednesday as a third-string quarterback behind starter Marc Wilson and rookie Rusty Hilger.

In his only season at Cal Lutheran in 1982, Jensen set single-season school records for passes attempted (362), passes completed (198), touchdowns (21) and interceptions (21).