Report: Gatti may have killed himself

An autopsy indicates former boxing champion Arturo Gatti may have committed suicide, been accidentally killed or murdered, according to a Brazilian newspaper that said Saturday it had obtained a copy of the coroner’s initial findings.

Police have said they are certain Gatti’s 23-year-old wife strangled the boxer with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept July 11, but the autopsy report raises some doubts.

Gatti was found dead in the apartment he was renting with wife Amanda Rodrigues in the Brazilian seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas in the northeastern state of Pernambuco.

In the state capital of Recife, the Jornal do Comercio newspaper reported that the autopsy findings it obtained stated Gatti’s body was “suspended and hanged, indicating he may have committed suicide.”

The autopsy report, according to the newspaper, also said that “murder or accidental death” could not be ruled out.

SOFTBALL

U.S. beats Japan, 6-1, at World Cup

Alissa Haber and Andrea Duran homered as the U.S. exacted a measure of revenge for its loss in the Olympic gold-medal game, defeating Japan, 6-1, at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City.

Haber’s opposite-field homer to left off Naho Emoto (0-2) put the U.S. ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth. Duran had a two-run blast later in the inning.

Earlier Saturday, the U.S. defeated Canada, 15-0, in four innings, and Canada defeated Italy, 6-4.

DIVING

Chinese divers retain world title

Olympic champions Qin Kai and Wang Feng of China defended their world championship title in three-meter synchronized diving, beating Troy Dumais and Kristian Ipsen of the United States in the six-dive final in Rome.

Dumais and Ipsen took silver at the Foro Italico with 445.59 points, and Alexandre Despatie and Reuben Ross of Canada finished third with 428.64.

NBA

Marquis Daniels to play for Celtics

Former Indiana Pacers guard Marquis Daniels will play for the Boston Celtics next season. Agent Glenn Schwartzman said his client has committed to go to Boston as a free agent or as part of a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana.

MOTOR RACING

Kyle Busch wins in Nationwide Series

Kyle Busch continued his domination of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, winning the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 at Madison, Ill. Busch, who leads the point standings, won for the sixth time in 19 races this season. Reed Sorenson was second.

Ron Hornaday held off a late surge from Mike Skinner to win the NASCAR Camping World truck race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. It was the third consecutive victory for the series points leader.

Chad Reed won his second race of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship season, taking the Honda Motocross National from Spring Creek MX in Millville, Minn.

Troy Emish of Fremont took the lead from series points leader M.K. Kanke, who had led most of the race, on a re-start on Lap 97 and went on to win the SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour 100-lap feature race at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale.

TENNIS

Chardy and Hanescu reach Stuttgart final

Jeremy Chardy beat Nicolas Kiefer, 6-3, 7-5, to set up a Mercedes Cup final against Victor Hanescu at Stuttgart, Germany.

Second-seeded Robin Soderling beat Swede Andreas Vinciguerra, 6-1, 7-6 (6), to set up a meeting with Juan Monaco in the Swedish Open final in Bastad.