Italian Fighter in a Coma, Surviving on Life Support

Doctors in Avenza, Italy were running tests Sunday night to determine if boxer Fabrizio De Chiara, who collapsed in the ring during a title bout 24 hours earlier, was brain dead.

The 25-year-old fighter was in a deep coma after sustaining a head injury in his 12-round bout against Vincenzo Imparato for the Italian middleweight championship. Surgeons at Santa Chiara Hospital in nearby Pisa twice operated to remove blood that was putting pressure on De Chiara’s brain.

“In the course of the day, the patient’s condition worsened progressively,” according to a medical bulletin, which revealed that procedures had started to “verify the irreversible cessation of all brain functions.”

Under Italian law, doctors had to wait six hours before they could declare De Chiara brain dead, Dr. Paolo Malacarne said. De Chiara would remain on life support during that time.

Women’s Basketball

Olympia Scott scored 18 points as top-ranked Stanford celebrated Coach Tara VanDerveer’s return by defeating No. 2 Alabama, 74-65, in the season-opening Tip-Off Classic at Stanford.

VanDerveer, who led the Cardinal to NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992, took a leave of absence last season to coach the U.S. Olympic team.

Tiffani Johnson scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds to lead No. 4 Tennessee to a 79-60 victory over No. 12 Kansas at Knoxville in the second round of the women’s NIT.

Baseball

The Cleveland Indians have rescinded their offer to Albert Belle, the Plain Dealer reported. General Manager John Hart told Belle’s agent, Arn Tellem, on Saturday that he was withdrawing the deal, said to be worth $39 million-$40 million over five years. According to the paper, Florida made the free-agent outfielder a $38 million, four-year offer on Friday.

Marlin General manager Dave Dombrowski acknowledged discussing money, but denied making an offer.

Soccer

Jamaica became the third team to reach the six-team regional finals of World Cup qualifying, defeating Mexico, 1-0, at Kingston to win Group Three of the North and Central American and Caribbean semifinals.

Ian Goodison scored the game’s only goal in the 82nd minute.

Jamaica finished the semifinals with a 4-1-1 record. Visiting Mexico, already guaranteed to advance prior to facing Jamaica, finished the semifinals 4-2.

Honduras, trying to overtake Jamaica for the group’s second spot, routed visiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 11-3, at San Pedro Sula. Honduras finished 3-2-1. St. Vincent lost all six semifinal games and was outscored, 30-6.

In Group One, Costa Rica defeated Guatemala, 3-0, to tie the United States for first at 2-0. The Americans and Costa Ricans can clinch spots in the regional finals if they win next weekend.

Australian officials are negotiating with former England soccer coach Terry Venables to replace Australian national team coach Eddie Thomson, but no deal has been signed.

Miscellany

Jumbo Ozaki won for the 100th time in his career, coasting to a three-shot victory over younger brother Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki and Tom Watson at the Dunlop Phoenix in Miyazaki, Japan.

“I won my first tournament on this course 25 years ago and to win my 100th here is like a dream come true,” Jumbo Ozaki said.

Despite a closing two-over-par 73, Ozaki was never really challenged in the final round and finished at seven-under 277 for his third consecutive victory in Japan’s richest event, earning $323,000.

Apart from the 1972 New Zealand PGA championship, all of Ozaki’s victories have come in Japan.

After nearly two months of study, the NCAA has approved Oregon State’s eligibility appeal for basketball player Corey Benjamin--so long as Benjamin passes one last test.

The governing body of college sports told the Beavers the highly recruited Benjamin must retake the ACT college entrance exam because his qualifying scores came on a “residual” test date in September.

Doug Flutie scored two touchdowns and passed for another to lead the Tornto Argonauts to a 43-7 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Toronto for a berth in the Grey Cup. The Argonauts will play Edmonton, which edged the Calgary Stampeders, 15-12.