Nunn Loses Decision in Challenge to Liles

Frank Liles won a unanimous decision over challenger Michael Nunn Saturday night at Quito, Ecuador, to retain the World Boxing Assn. super-middleweight crown.

The two Americans fought a fairly even bout, with Liles managing a slight advantage to win the 12-rounder at Quito’s Ruminahui Coliseum.

Nunn took the initiative in the first two rounds, but Liles fended off the attack and landed the most punches.

*

Former two-time heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon, 37, recorded a sixth-round technical knockout over Nathaniel Fitch at Atlantic City, N.J.

Winter Sports

Armin Assinger led Austrians to the first four places in a World Cup men’s downhill at Val d’Isere, France. He was timed in 1 minute 56.07 seconds, 0.39 seconds faster than 1992 Olympic champion Patrick Ortlieb.

It was Assinger’s fourth World Cup victory, third in the downhill.

American Tommy Moe, the 1994 Olympic champion, again struggled, finishing 32nd after coming in 33rd on Friday.

He wasn’t even among the top Americans. Chad Fleischer led them, finishing 12th in 1:57.54.

Bjorn Daehlie of Norway won a men’s World Cup cross-country ski race at Sappada, Italy, on a course that was halved to 15 kilometers because of the scarcity of snow.

Daehlie led the race from the 1,500-meter mark to the finish, covering the distance in 34 minutes, 55.5 seconds.

The women’s winner was Russia’s Elena Vaelbe, whose 40 minutes 43.1 seconds was more than 40 seconds ahead of the field.

Lloyd Langlois of Canada and Hilde Lid of Norway won aerial competitions in World Cup freestyle skiing in Tignes, France.

Golf

Ernie Els bogeyed three times from bunkers but still shot an even-par 71 that kept him in control at the Johnnie Walker World Championship at Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Els, who had two 64s in establishing his early lead, had a 54-hole total of 14-under-par 199 for a seven-shot advantage over Nick Price. Paul Azinger had the day’s best round, a course-record 62, and was tied for third at 207 with Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Mark McCumber.

*

Laura Davies shot an even-par 73 and held a two-stroke lead over Karrie Webb in the wind-plagued Alpine Australian Ladies Masters at Gold Coast.

Davies had a 54-hole total of 205, and moved closer to becoming the first golfer, male or female, to win tournaments in five tours in one year. She won three tournaments in the United States, two in Europe and events on the Asian and Japanese tours.

Miscellany

Vice President Al Gore, speaking to international Olympic officials in Atlanta, called for strong sanctions against coaches, trainers and administrators who assist athletes in using performance-enhancing drugs.

Noting that sports bodies suspend athletes who test positive for drugs, Gore said, “It may also be time to apply the same strict penalties, if not more serious penalties, to coaches, trainers and administrators who know of, and therefore condone, drug use.”

Small delegations representing the NHL and the NHL Players Assn. met to discuss issues related to the lockout. No additional meetings were planned for today, according to a union spokesman, who also said no meetings have been arranged between Commissioner Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow, executive director of the NHLPA.

Football

Three Michigan players--linebacker Trevor Pryce, wide receiver and kick returner Seth Smith and safety Earnest Sanders--have been suspended for team violations and will miss the Holiday Bowl.

Joe Lee Dunn, interim head coach at Mississippi, is going to Arkansas as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

The NFL has provided federal prosecutors with data gathered in its inquiry into NFL Properties, and asked them to look into investments by John Flood and John Bello, two former officials of the league’s merchandising arm.

Three football players accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a Denton, Tex., motel were informally acting as recruiting hosts for Southern Methodist University when the attack occurred.

Charged with sexual assault were Weldon G. English, 19; Calvin Robinson Jr., 18; and Eric D. Yarbrough, 19.

Names in the News

Orestes Destrade, who had played in Japan before moving to the Florida Marlins, has been lured back to the Seibu Lions with a $3.7-million contract, the highest ever paid a player in Japan. . . . Bull rider Brent Thurman died at a Las Vegas hospital, six days after he was injured while competing in the National Finals Rodeo.