Boxing & MMA

Amanda Nunes is the UFC women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion, yet her fight Saturday against Germaine de Randamie isn’t one of the card’s main event.

Vergil Ortiz Jr. is on the verge of a breakthrough in 2020, but first will have to get through Brad Solomon on Friday in Indio.

Anthony Joshua reclaimed his world heavyweight titles Sunday by producing a disciplined and smart display to beat Andy Ruiz Jr. on points in their rematch in the first title fight to be staged in the Middle East.Joshua won a unanimous verdict, with two judges giving the fight to the Briton 119-110 and the other 119-109.Ruiz knocked down Joshua four times on the way to a seventh-round upset win in New York in June but there was none of the drama in the rematch as Joshua controlled the fight with his movement and better timing of his punches. Neither boxer was sent to the canvas.Joshua won back the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.By the end of an unspectacular bout fought in the early hours of Sunday in a relatively cool 19 C (66 F) for this part of the world, Joshua was almost running around the ring and Ruiz was planted in the middle, urging him to come closer.“He boxed me around,” Ruiz said, adding that he came in too heavy after putting on 15 pounds since the first match.“That affected me a lot.”It was the first heavyweight title fight to be staged in the Middle East and was played out to a backdrop of concerns that Saudi Arabia was using this and other big sporting events to divert attention from its human-rights violations. They include the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Women who attended the fight at the purpose-built, 15,000-capacity Diriyah Arena did not appear to be segregated, as they have been in sports stadiums in Saudi Arabia since being allowed into them for the first time last year.The fight began at 12.15 a.m. local time soon after rain fell in the desert venue.— Associated Press

Heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz Jr. weighed in at a whopping 283.7 pounds for title fight against Anthony Joshua, more than 15 pounds heavier than for previous bout.

Middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins and women’s star Christy Martin are among the new class elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Former featherweight Oscar Valdez believes the extra four pounds he doesn’t have to shed will make a major difference against replacement opponent Adam Lopez.

L.A. boxer Leo Santa Cruz, who has had only one career loss, will be vying for his fourth world title Saturday in Las Vegas. Solidly in his corner is his coach, who happens to be his dad, a survivor of myeloma spinal cancer.

Bellator 228 will feature Juan Archuleta looking to extend his 18-fight winning streak against two-division champion Patricio Freire at The Forum.

Touted boxing prospect Ryan Garcia will not fight Avery Sparrow on Saturday after Sparrow was arrested for an alleged domestic dispute.

Jaime Munguia, who has enlisted legendary champion Erik Morales to help him take the next step in his career, has gone back to Tijuana to make it happen.

Stipe Miocic gets fourth-round KO in heavyweight title fight rematch. Nate Diaz also a winner in his return.

This summer has proven a difficult one for boxing with canceled fights, no Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin rematch and a fight set for Saudi Arabia.