Did Bowe Quit or Did They Kick Him Out?

Conflicting versions have emerged of former heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe’s departure from the Marines.

Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Rick Long was quoted in Tuesday’s editions of the Washington Post as saying Bowe “refused to train” and wanted out. However Long later told the Associated Press that Bowe’s departure was a mutual decision and he knew of no specific instances when Bowe outright refused to follow orders.

Bowe bowed out Friday, telling his drill instructor and battalion commander the regimen was too strict, he missed his family and he wished he’d enlisted when he was younger.

Long told the Post he wanted to clarify reports that he said gave the impression that Bowe was allowed to leave the Marines last week after realizing that he had made a mistake by joining.

“You don’t sign a contract with the United States Marine Corps, come in here, start training, and then say, ‘Oops, I think I want to go home’ and then just leave,” Long said. “It’s not that easy.”

Long was quoted in the Post as saying it became obvious that the 29-year-old multimillionaire was “a problem” recruit during his initial five days after processing, and that his behavior became worse Feb. 18 when he refused to train. “It’s just obstinacy, that’s all,” Long said.

On Tuesday, Long told the Associated Press: “I did not say it was just obstinacy. I wouldn’t classify it as obstinacy. He had difficulty with the day-to-day regimen. . . . I didn’t say he was a problem. I said he had problems with the day-to-day being told what to do, when to do it and how fast to do it.”

Said George Solomon, sports editor of the Washington Post, “We have our notes and we stand by our story completely.”

Bowe’s short-lived venture cost U.S. taxpayers more than $5,000.

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The second time heavyweight Jeremy Williams put Phil Jackson down in the first round of the main event at the Long Beach Pyramid before an announced crowd of 1,174, Jackson decided he had had enough. He remained on one knee and was counted out at the 1:25 mark, improving Williams’ record to 29-2 with 26 knockouts.

Then it was Williams who decided that he may have had enough.

“This may be my last fight,” Williams said. “I’m just not inspired. I have no passion for boxing.”

Jose Bonilla of Venezuela scored an early knockdown and stopped Japanese challenger Hireoki Ioka in the seventh round at Osaka, Japan, in successfully defending his World Boxing Assn. flyweight title.

Tennis

Andrei Chesnokov broke both bones in his lower right leg and dislocated his ankle during a first-round loss to Todd Woodbridge at the Advanta Championships at Philadelphia. He is scheduled to undergo surgery today.

Woodbridge had won the first set and was leading, 1-0, in the second set with the score, 40-15, in the second game when Chesnokov chased the ball several yards behind the baseline and then suddenly toppled to the floor.

“I heard an enormous crack and I heard him screaming,” Woodbridge said. “Of course, I was on the other end of the court and I think he must have broken his ankle joint. It was horrible, a shock for me. I never saw anybody do that before.”

Top-seeded Goran Ivanisevic defeated Andrei Olhovskiy, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, in the Italian Indoor tournament at Milan.

Football

Running back Gary Brown agreed to a one-year contract with the Chargers. Brown played five seasons for the Houston Oilers, where Charger Coach Kevin Gilbride was in charge of the offense.

Pittsburgh Steeler cornerback Rod Woodson underwent a knee operation of unspecified nature within the last two weeks, clouding his prospects for free agency. Even a routine operation could prevent Woodson from working out with other teams. Woodson has said he is upset that the Steelers had not made him an offer. He earned an average of $3.5 million a season over the past four years.

The Denver Broncos signed two former San Francisco 49ers, safety Dedrick Dodge and running back Anthony Lynn, and waived receiver-returner Todd Kinchen.

The Atlanta Falcons submitted a four-year contract proposal for cornerback Ray Buchanan of the Indianapolis Colts, one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks.

Miscellany

Miami Dolphin receiver Lamar Thomas pleaded no contest to two counts of aggravated battery against his pregnant fiancee and was sentenced to eight days in jail.

University of Houston Athletic Director Bill Carr has resigned, effective March 31.

Earle Edwards, whose 17-year stint at North Carolina State was the longest tenure for any Wolfpack football coach, died at 88.

PGA Senior champion Hale Irwin won the Senior Slam golf tournament at San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, by nine shots with a 131 total, 13 under par. Dave Stockton was second in the two-day, four man competition.

Joseph Quintanilla, a former nationally ranked jockey, was stabbed and shot to death and found slumped over the wheel of a car in a rural area near San Antonio, authorities said.

Nikki McCray scored 25 points as Columbus defeated San Jose, 81-69, to advance to the finals of the inaugural American Basketball League championship in Columbus, Ohio. The Quest will play Richmond in a best-of-five series, beginning Sunday.

Winter Sports

The United States I sled, piloted by Brian Shimer, won its first race this season in World Cup four-man bobsled competition, beating Germany II by 0.27 of a second at Nagano, Japan. . . . Norwegian Bjorn Dahlie won his second gold of the World Nordic Ski Championships, finishing first in the two-day pursuit at Trondheim, Norway.