Mayweather settles $5.6-million IRS debt

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. agreed to pay $5.6 million in back taxes before the Internal Revenue Service was poised to take the money from his purse after his Saturday comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.

The IRS sent the Nevada Athletic Commission a levy notice on Sept. 4 ordering Mayweather’s unpaid taxes from 2007 to be deducted from his $10-million fight purse, commission executive director Keith Kizer told the Associated Press.

Kizer said the IRS backed off one week later, after Mayweather agreed to pay the money. Mayweather won the fight in a unanimous decision.

Mayweather’s tax attorney, Jeffrey Morse, told the AP on Tuesday that federal officials never intended to take Mayweather’s purse, and the five-division champion has satisfied all his IRS debts.

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JURISPRUDENCE

Clemens files appeal in suit

Roger Clemens has filed an appeal of his dismissed defamation suit against Brian McNamee.

Clemens filed a notice with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the decisions of U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison, who threw out most of Clemens’ case in February and dismissed the remainder of the suit Aug. 28.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner sued his former personal trainer in Texas state court in January 2008, a month after McNamee’s accusations against the pitcher were published in the Mitchell Report.

Professional golfer Jim Thorpe has pleaded guilty to failing to pay more than $2 million in income taxes. He faces a maximum of two years in prison and a $4.1-million fine when he is sentenced.

A New York judge has denied a motion by America’s Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland to disqualify challenger BMW Oracle Racing because the U.S.-based syndicate hasn’t provided a measurement certificate for its 90-foot trimaran.

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PRO BASKETBALL

Odom to marry Khloe Kardashian

The Kardashians are adding another family member: Lamar Odom.

Khloe Kardashian’s spokeswoman said the reality TV starlet will marry the Lakers’ forward Sunday.

Kardashian, 25, appears with her family on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

Odom, 29, agreed to a four-year contract to stay with the Lakers this summer.

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TENNIS

Henin wants to win Wimbledon

Justine Henin is seeking the elusive Wimbledon title in her return to the WTA tour.

It’s the only Grand Slam the former top-ranked player hasn’t won. And it loomed large in her decision to end a one-year retirement from the sport.

“It is a dream of mine,” Henin said. “I want to work to get it. I make it a priority.”

Tennis champion Jack Kramer will be honored by Hall of Fame players Tracy Austin, Pam Shriver and Donald Dell at a memorial service.

The service is Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus. Kramer died of cancer Sept. 13 in Los Angeles. He was 88.

Shriver and Times sports columnist Bill Dwyre will host the memorial.

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ETC.

Edney, McNown among honorees

Point guard Tyus Edney and All-American football players Cade McNown and J.J. Stokes are among eight former UCLA Bruins who will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame on Oct. 9.

Edney helped lead UCLA to the 1995 national championship. McNown helped the Bruins to a school-record 20-game win streak in 1997-98. Stokes’ 28 touchdown receptions in the early ‘90s are a school record.

Others being inducted are: James “Cap” Haralson (football, track and field), Stein Metzger (men’s volleyball), Nicolle Payne (women’s water polo), Daiva Tomkus (women’s volleyball) and Walt Torrence (men’s basketball).

Curt Schilling won’t run for Edward M. Kennedy’s seat in the U.S. Senate. The former Boston Red Sox pitcher made the announcement on “Joe Buck Live” on HBO. . . . Wayne Simmonds had two goals and the Kings survived an unusually chippy exhibition to beat the New York Islanders, 4-2, at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. . . . The NCAA has picked James Isch to be interim president, a temporary replacement for the late Myles Brand. Isch joined the staff in 1998 and has served as the governing body’s vice president for administration and chief financial officer. . . . . . . . Bode Miller will hold a news conference Thursday in Los Angeles to say whether he will race at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Miller’s plans have been uncertain since the end of last season.