NAMES IN THE GAMES : Fighter Balks at Size of Ring

World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Dennis Andries has threatened to pull out of Saturday’s title defense with Australian Guy Waters in Adelaide, Australia, over the size of the boxing ring.

Andries’ trainer, Emmanuel Steward, said the Detroit-based Briton was adamant that he will not fight in a 20-foot ring at the 8,500-seat Memorial Drive tennis stadium. The Australian camp wants the larger canvas.

Steward said if the issue is not settled by late Thursday, he and Andries will fly back to the United States on Friday. He said the two sides may compromise on a 19-foot ring.

“We came here to box, not to run,” Steward said. “Anybody that wants a 20-foot ring came to run.”

Andries, whose age is officially listed as 36 but who Steward said Wednesday is actually 40, does not want to have to chase the 26-year-old Waters around the ring, the trainer said.

Miami quarterback Craig Erickson will miss the Hula Bowl with a strained right knee suffered in practice, bowl officials announced. He will be replaced on the East roster by Oregon quarterback Bill Musgrave, originally selected to play for the West team, bowl spokeswoman Jane Inouye said.

Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Anthony Munoz, fresh from missing his first game because of injury in 11 seasons of pro football, is to undergo surgery next week for a shoulder injury. His ailing left shoulder caused Munoz to miss Sunday’s playoff game in Los Angeles, which the Bengals lost 20-10 to the Raiders to fall out of the playoffs.