Klitschko stops Thompson in the 11th

Wladimir Klitschko knocked out former sparring partner Tony Thompson in the 11th round to successfully defend his three heavyweight titles Saturday at Hamburg, Germany.

Klitschko (51-3, 45 knockouts) sent the American to the canvas with a right hand 1:38 into the 11th.

Klitschko’s ninth consecutive win was tougher than expected, as he had to survive a second-round head-butt that left both fighters bleeding from the right eye.

“I’m still world champion, but it’s about three titles now -- that means everybody that fights me is extra motivated,” said Klitschko, who holds the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Organization titles. “I haven’t had a black eye for a long time, now I really look like a fighter.”

His corner stemmed the cut, but his left eye was swollen after Thompson caught him with several good shots, especially a right hook in the fifth round.

Klitschko caught Thompson in the sixth round with two good rights to take control of the fight. He appeared tired after the seventh -- until he charged out in the 11th round and landed the knockout punch.

Thompson (31-2, 19 KOs), who had a 27-bout winning streak end, was a WBO mandatory fight for Klitschko.

TENNIS

Chang gets into Hall of Fame

Michael Chang, who won the 1989 French Open at age 17 -- the youngest man to win a major, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Chang finished with 34 titles. He was a finalist at the 1995 French Open, 1996 U.S. Open and 1996 Australian Open. He became the first American to win the French since Tony Trabert in 1955.

Second-seeded Fabrice Santoro advanced to the final of the Hall of Fame Championships at Newport, R.I., by defeating Vince Spadea, 7-6 (4), 6-1.

The matchup between the 35-year-old Santoro and 33-year-old Spadea was the oldest combined ages in a semifinal on tour since 1993, when 31-year old Brad Gilbert beat 40-year-old Jimmy Connors in San Francisco.

Santoro will play Prakash Amritraj, who defeated seventh-seeded Frank Dancevic, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3.

Third-seeded Tommy Robredo defeated top-seeded David Ferrer, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, in the semifinals of the Swedish Open in Bastad. Robredo will play Tomas Berdych in today’s final. Berdych upset second-seeded Fernando Verdasco, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Top-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka lost to Victor Hanescu, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Swiss Open at Gstaad. Hanescu will play seventh-seeded Igor Andreev or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in today’s final. They were tied at one set each when the match was suspended because of rain.

TRACK AND FIELD

Chambers wins British 100

Dwain Chambers won the 100 meters at Britain’s Olympic trials at Birmingham, England, and now must wait to see if a judge overturns his Olympic ban. Chambers, who is returning from a two-year drug ban, was timed in 10.00.

That should also ensure a berth in the 400-meter relay if his legal team can convince a judge at London’s High Court on Wednesday to grant an injunction against the British Olympic Assn.’s lifetime ban on drug cheats.

Britain has to set its squad by July 20 for the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.

SOCCER

Guatemala ties Honduras

Jonny Brown, Wilson Lalin and Carlos Castillo scored in the second half as Guatemala rallied for a 3-3 tie with Honduras’ under-23 team in an exhibition at the Coliseum.

Carlos Pavon, Luis Rene Rodas and Quiarol Arzu scored in the first half for the Hondurans, who will compete at the Olympics in Beijing.

With Guatemala trailing, 3-0, Brown scored in the 58th minute on a seven-yard shot, then Guatemala tied it with two goals in two minutes.

Lalin headed Abner Trigueros’ right-wing cross inside the left post in the 72nd minute. Castillo tied the score in the 74th minute on a 13-yard shot after Guillermo Ramirez poked the ball to him while surrounded by three defenders.

PRO FOOTBALL

San Jose reaches Arena Bowl

Mark Grieb threw eight touchdown passes, five of them to Cleannord Saintil, and the San Jose Sabercats advanced to Arena Bowl XXII with an 81-55 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage at San Jose.

Omarr Smith intercepted three passes that led to touchdowns and the defending champion Sabercats will play in the Arena Bowl in New Orleans on July 27 against the Philadelphia Soul, which beat the Cleveland Gladiators, 70-35, at Philadelphia.

LACROSSE

Riptide beats Outlaws, 16-6

The L.A. Riptide defeated the Denver Outlaws, 16-6, in a Major League Lacrosse match at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Riptide rookie attackman Kevin Huntley led all scorers with four goals and two assists.