Jones Pounds His Latest Foe Like a Drum

Roy Jones Jr. did everything but put Derrick Harmon on his back.

The undisputed light-heavyweight champion successfully defended his title Saturday night when the little-known Harmon, who had been taken a steady pounding, failed to answer the bell for the 11th round of their scheduled 12-round bout at Tampa, Fla.

There was little doubt that Jones was on his way to victory, but the abrupt finish caught the crowd of more than 14,000 off guard because the challenger weathered barrage after barrage to remain on his feet.

But Harmon’s corner said the 31-year-old left-hander’s right eardrum was broken in the 10th round and he was in no condition to go on.

Jones, fighting for the first time under a new contract with HBO that pays him about $4 million per bout, improved to 44-1 with his 36th knockout. Harmon fell to 20-2.

Jones’ best friend, featherweight champion Derrick Gainer, retained his World Boxing Assn. title with a 12-round split decision over Victor Polo of Colombia. The result was not a popular one with the crowd, which booed Gainer dancing most of the night to stay away from the more aggressive challenger.

Football

Hawaii football Coach June Jones remained in guarded condition and is expected to be hospitalized for several weeks after a car accident Thursday.

Doctors are optimistic about chances for a full recovery. Dr. Gail Tominaga, director of trauma services at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, said Jones, 48, was nodding in response to questions, had started to open his eyes and is moving his arms and legs.

A breathing tube was removed Saturday, allowing Jones to breathe on his own, doctors said.

Defensive end Bill Duff scored on a 48-yard fumble return as the Orlando Rage improved to 4-0 in the XFL with a 30-6 victory over the Birmingham Thunderbolts (2-2) before 21,947 at Orlando, Fla. . . . Joe Aska scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter and the New York/New Jersey Hitmen (1-3) defeated the winless Chicago Enforcers, 13-0, before 14,856 on a freezing night in Chicago.

The top two quarterbacks in the NFL draft, Michael Vick and Drew Brees, are playing different roles in the NFL combine at Indianapolis. Vick, formerly of Virginia Tech, won’t go through drills or work out because his agents set up a private workout. Brees, formerly of Purdue, said he’s doing whatever he can at the combine for the scouts to look beyond the fact he’s only 6 feet tall. The San Diego Chargers hold the first pick in the April 21-22 draft. . . . The Denver Broncos cut former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tony Jones on Friday, less than a week before he was to be paid a $1.5-million roster bonus.

Tennis

Mark Philippoussis said his 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) defeat of Tommy Haas in the semifinals of the Kroger St. Jude tournament at Memphis, Tenn., signals that he’s fully recovered from the knee surgery he had two months ago. Philippoussis will play ninth-seeded Davide Sanguinetti of Italy, who defeated Sebastien Lareau of Canada, 7-5 (1), 6-3. . . . Roger Federer of Switzerland defeated Andrei Pavel of Romania, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-0, to reach the final of the ABN AMRO tournament at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Federer will play Nicolas Escude of France, a 6-4, 6-1 winner over Vladimir Voltchkov of Belarus. . . . Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil rallied to defeat Fernando Vicente of Spain, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the final of the AT&T; Cup at Buenos Aires. Kuerten will play Jose Acasuso of Argentina in today’s final. Acasuso defeated countryman Gaston Gaudio, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Martina Hingis of Switzerland defeated Nathalie Tauziat of France, 6-4, 6-4, needing only 72 minutes to win the Dubai Open final in the United Arab Emirates. . . . Top-seeded Monica Seles, the defending champion, defeated Shinobu Asagoe of Japan, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2, and will face Jennifer Capriati in the final of the IGA U.S. Indoor Championship at Oklahoma City. Capriati, the Australian Open champion, defeated 17-year-old Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Miscellany

Jason Couch won the Villages Professional Bowlers Assn. Open at The Villages, Fla., defeating Chris Barnes, 223-201, for the ninth title of his career.

John Korir upset five-time world cross-country champion Paul Tergat of Kenya by winning a 12-kilometer race at the national championships at Nairobi in 36 minutes 10 seconds. Tergat finished third.

Dee Scott of Cal State Northridge won the triple jump, finished sixth in the long jump and eighth in the 55-meter hurdles in earning women’s field athlete of the meet honors at the Big Sky track and field meet at Bozeman, Mont.

The Long Beach Ice Dogs defeated the Tacoma Sabercats, 3-2, at Tacoma, Wash., in a West Coast Hockey League game.

Special Olympics of Southern California will hold a send-off dinner Thursday at HealthSouth training center in El Segundo for the 35 athletes and coaches going to the World Winter Games in Alaska. Details: (310) 215-8380 or https://www.sosc.org.