Hill loses WBA title to Arslan

Firat Arslan took Virgil Hill’s World Boxing Assn. cruiserweight title on Saturday at Dresden, Germany, battering the 43-year-old American to win a unanimous decision.

The Turkish-born German’s left hooks staggered Hill in the ninth and 10th rounds, and he went on to win with scores of 118-110, 116-113 and 117-111.

Arslan (23-8-1 with 18 knockouts) ended Hill’s two-decade run as a world champion, which began when he stopped Leslie Stewart on Sept. 5, 1987, to win the WBA light-heavyweight title.

Hill (50-7, 23 knockouts), of Williston, N.D., has lost three of his last four fights and said he was considering retiring.

“We’re going to look at that,” Hill said. “I trained so hard for this fight. I think I need a vacation.”

WINTER SPORTS

Hudec wins first downhill of season

Jan Hudec won the first downhill of the World Cup season, making a big comeback from three knee operations in front of a home crowd at Lake Louise, Canada.

He was timed in 1 minute 42.79 seconds and was followed by Marco Sullivan of Squaw Valley, Calif., in 1:43.03 and Andreas Buder in 1:43.13.

Hudec won the downhill silver medal at the 2006 world championships, but this was his first top-three finish on the World Cup circuit. He is the first Canadian to win the men’s downhill at Lake Louise.

The race was held on a crisp day on the men’s 2010 Olympic downhill course. The course was shorter this year because lack of snow at the top of the mountain forced the starting gate to be lowered.

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Denise Karbon won her second consecutive World Cup giant slalom to open the season. She had a two-run time of 2 minutes 42.71 seconds at Panorama, Canada. Elisabeth Gorgl was second in 2:43.13, and Manuela Moelgg finished third in 2:43.22.

SOCCER

Arsenal takes lead in Premier League

Arsenal took the sole lead of the English Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Wigan after Manchester United was upset by Bolton, 1-0.

The Gunners scored late against visiting Wigan, with William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky scoring goals in the final eight minutes. Nicolas Anelka scored to send United to its first defeat at Bolton since 1978.

Arsenal leads the league with 33 points, followed by Manchester United with 30, Manchester City with 29, Chelsea with 28 and Liverpool with 27.

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Sergio Santana sent Chivas Guadalajara into the semifinals of Mexico’s league playoffs when he converted a penalty kick in the 58th minute of Guadalajara’s 1-0 win against visiting San Luis. Santana’s goal, his second of the playoffs, gave Chivas a 2-1 aggregate-goal series win.

Atlante convincingly eliminated Cruz Azul with a 2-1 win at Quintana Roo Stadium. Cruz Azul’s goal came late when Atlante already had a 3-0 lead in the aggregate-goal scoreboard.

The other half of the semis will be determined today. Pumas UNAM will try to maintain a 2-0 lead against Toluca, and top-seeded Santos Laguna hosts Monarcas of Morelia.

-- Jaime Cardenas

COLLEGE SOCCER

Johnson leads USC past Florida, 1-0

Freshman defender Kasey Johnson scored in the 47th minute to give USC a 1-0 victory over Florida at the Coliseum in the third round of the NCAA Division I women’s tournament.

The Trojans (17-3-2) advance to the quarterfinals, where they will play West Virginia (18-4-2), which beat Penn State, 1-0.

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Midfielder Kyle Nakazawa’s goal in the 89th minute lifted UCLA (9-8-3) to a 1-0 victory over New Mexico at Drake Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division I men’s tournament:

PRO FOOTBALL

McNabb will not play against Patriots

Quarterback Donovan McNabb will not play for the Philadelphia Eagles today against the New England Patriots because of a sprained ankle and injured thumb. He has not practiced all week. A.J. Feeley will start in his place.

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Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Vinny Testaverde was listed as questionable for today’s game against the New Orleans Saints after he showed up for practice on Saturday suffering from a stiff back.

If Testaverde can’t play, David Carr would probably start four days after Coach John Fox had said the 44-year-old Testaverde gave the Panthers a better chance to win.

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Miami Dolphins linebacker Derrick Pope did not practice Saturday after being hospitalized for undisclosed reasons. Dolphins Coach Cam Cameron said the team was “gathering information,” but he did not know why Pope was in the hospital.

Pope’s status for Monday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was unclear.

He has started at outside linebacker for the last five games.

GOLF

Couples tops earnings on first day of Skins Game

Fred Couples rolled in a 35-yard, curling shot from a bunker to win $75,000 and top the earnings on the first day of the LG Skins Game at Indian Wells.

His eagle on the par-five, 501-yard fourth hole was worth three skins, and the money grew when the previous two holes were tied.

Defending champion Stephen Ames was the only other player to win a skin over the first nine holes of the two-day, 18-hole event. He picked up $25,000 by making a six-footer for birdie on the first hole.

Skins Game rookies Zach Johnson, this year’s Masters champion, and Brett Wetterich were shut out on opening day.

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Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum held their lead at the World Cup at Shenzhen, China, by shooting a six-under-par 66.

They have a one-stroke lead over France (62) and Scotland (66) entering today’s final round. The Americans are at 20-under 196 and have led by one stroke after all three rounds.

MISCELLANY

Powers wins surfing event in Hawaii

Roy Powers of Kauai, Hawaii, bested the largest day of surf ever during the 25-year history of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing to win the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, Hawaii.

Powers earned $15,000 and a spot in next year’s ASP World Championship Tour.