Hopkins Says He Will Not Fight

Because Bernard Hopkins does not like the referee assigned to his middleweight title bout against Robert Allen, Hopkins not only threatened Saturday’s three title-fight card at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, which is highlighted by Oscar De La Hoya’s debut at 160 pounds against Felix Sturm, Hopkins also put into doubt September’s bout with De La Hoya.

Hopkins, who has twice had referee Joe Cortez scratched from title defenses, feigned surprise at Cortez’s appointment and threatened to pull out of the show, which, contractually, would cancel the entire card.

Promoter Bob Arum requested an emergency meeting of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for today, and Chairman John Bailey had yet to decide Thursday night if enough evidence existed to warrant a meeting. If one is granted, at least three of the five commissioners must agree to the change.

Cortez said he would not budge, and Hopkins threatened to catch a flight home to Philadelphia and left the hotel, saying he was headed for the airport, before returning.

Hopkins had Cortez, a Puerto Rican American, scratched from his fights against Felix Trinidad, in the aftermath of Hopkins twice stomping on the Puerto Rican flag, and William Joppy.

Hopkins’ camp insists it did not know until Wednesday that Cortez had been assigned, yet NSAC Executive Director Mark Ratner said he told Hopkins camp member James Fisher of Cortez’s appointment more than a week ago.

Arum wants Cortez, who is due to make $3,150, to step aside and switch with Tony Weeks, who is assigned the Juan Lazcano-Jose Luis Castillo lightweight title bout, for the sake of the card.

*

Oxnard lightweight prospect Rolando Reyes (21-2-2, 13 knockouts) will headline a Telefutura/Solo Boxeo card at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas tonight in a scheduled 10-round bout with Miguel Angel Huerta (20-6-1, 14) of Mexico City.

-- Paul Gutierrez

Pro Football

Vinny Testaverde wants another chance at age 40 to be a starting quarterback. His former coach is giving it to him. Testaverde and Bill Parcells were reunited when the quarterback signed a one-year, $1-million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. The New York Jets released him on Tuesday, ending a six-year run for his hometown team in a salary-cap move. His first two seasons there were with Parcells.

Testaverde’s agent, Mike Azzarelli, said the quarterback could make as much as $5 million this season, based on playing time and performance.

*

As expected, two-time NFL most valuable player Kurt Warner was signed by the New York Giants, giving the team a veteran quarterback in case top draft pick Eli Manning is not ready to start this season. The contract is a two-year deal, voidable after the first year. He will make $3.5 million in salary and bonuses.... Miami Dolphin linebacker Junior Seau apologized for using a derogatory term for gays while describing his relationship with his teammates. He was accepting the Dolphins’ leadership award at the team’s annual banquet Wednesday night when he made the remark.

Motor Racing

Carl Edwards, the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie of the year, won the pole for Saturday’s MBNA America 200 at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.

Edwards headed a pack of eight trucks that broke a four-year-old qualifying record. Driving a Ford, he ran a lap of 152.893 mph, about two-hundredths of a second quicker than the Chevrolet of Jack Sprague. The old record of 151.764 was set by Kurt Busch in 2000.

College Football

Utah restructured the contract of Coach Urban Meyer, giving him a one-year extension and a $40,000 raise. The contract, which runs through 2009, will be extended by one year each time the Utes finish with a winning record and equal or exceed their ticket sales from 2002.

Running back Marcus Whalen and wide receiver Breyon Jones of Brigham Young, both facing criminal charges, have had their suspensions from school for violating its honor code confirmed. They are charged with robbery, assault and making a false statement to police.

A federal judge in Clarksburg, W.Va., has dismissed a firearms dealing charge against suspended West Virginia linebacker Muhammad “Mo” Howard. He had been accused of buying more than 20 inexpensive firearms between March 26 and June 2, 2003 and selling them without a license.

Horse Racing

The California Horse Racing Board approved for public notice and comment a rule establishing a minimum weight of 118 pounds for thoroughbred and Arabian races.

The minimum weight for jockeys in quarter horse and other races would be 123 pounds.

The proposed changes, which also would require that jockeys maintain a minimum body fat content of not less than 5%, will be discussed at a public hearing after July.