Haye beats Valuev for WBA title

David Haye backed up weeks’ worth of boasting, winning the World Boxing Assn. heavyweight title with a majority decision over Nikolai Valuev on Saturday in Nuremberg, Germany.

The brash British boxer used his superior quickness over the huge Russian, who came close to being knocked down for the first time in his 16-year pro career in the final round.

Haye won his third fight since moving up from cruiserweight. He fought Valuev (50-2), the tallest and heaviest champion in history, after antagonizing the other heavyweight titleholders, brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

Haye (23-1) probably won’t fight either one of them next. His first defense of the WBA belt is supposed to come against John Ruiz, who stopped German Adnan Serin in the seventh round earlier in the night. Haye won over the judges with two scores of 116-112, and a third called it 114-114.

Chad Dawson beat Glen Johnson by unanimous decision at Hartford, Conn., to win the interim World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title.

Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs) now awaits the winner of the Dec. 11 bout between WBC champion Jean Pascal and Adrian Diaconu.

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TENNIS

Williams faces major fine

Top-ranked Serena Williams probably will receive a “significant” fine but no suspension for her U.S. Open tirade, the president of the International Tennis Federation said. Williams was fined $10,000 after her obscenity-laced outburst at a lineswoman during her semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters in September. A fine from the ITF could be much greater.

Alexa Glatch and Melanie Oudin lost in straight sets to give Italy a 2-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup final in Reggio Calabria, Italy. . . . Top-seeded Andy Murray held off fourth-seeded Fernando Verdasco, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, to reach the Valencia Open final against Mikhail Youzhny in Spain. Unseeded Youzhny defeated second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. . . . Roger Federer will play Novak Djokovic in the Swiss Indoors final today in a bid for a fourth straight title in his hometown tournament in Basel.

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BASKETBALL

Prince is out indefinitely

The Detroit Pistons say forward Tayshaun Prince will be out indefinitely because of a small rupture of a disk in his lower back.

The 6-foot-9 Prince has appeared in three games this season, averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Disgruntled Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson returned to his home in Atlanta after receiving permission to leave the team to attend to personal business.

Iverson has played in three games since returning from a hamstring injury, averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 assists and 22.3 minutes.

Cal State Northridge defeated the Master’s College, 78-61, in an exhibition game on the strength of 19 points from Lenny Daniel. . . . UC Santa Barbara defeated visiting Sonoma State, 101-64, also in an exhibition.

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BASEBALL

Cuddyer’s deal is extended

The Minnesota Twins have picked up outfielder Michael Cuddyer’s $10.5-million option for 2011. . . . New York Mets reliever J.J. Putz and Twins pitcher Carl Pavano filed for free agency.

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WINTER SPORTS

Joubert wins NHK Trophy

Brian Joubert of France won the NHK Trophy, earning his first Grand Prix title of the season with a strong performance in the free skate in Nagano, Japan. Miki Ando of Japan won the women’s event.

Canada’s women’s hockey team rallied from a goal down to beat the United States, 5-1, in the Four Nations Cup final in Tikkurila, Finland. . . . Katherine Reutter of the U.S. won the women’s 1,500 meters at the short-track speedskating World Cup event, and U.S. star Apolo Anton Ohno was second in the men’s 500 in Montreal.