Off the wire

BOXING

Pacquiao pummels Bradley

Manny Pacquiao won a unanimous decision in his rematch with Timothy Bradley on Saturday night, avenging his 2012 loss and claiming the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao (56-5-2) pursued and peppered the previously unbeaten Bradley around the MGM Grand Garden ring with an aggressive performance recalling the Pacman in his prime. Bradley fought back with counterpunching and elusiveness, but Pacquiao kept up his attack while Bradley (31-1) struggled down the stretch.

Pacquiao left no doubt about the rematch in the same arena where they met nearly two years ago. Bradley’s split-decision victory astonished most ringside observers, who felt Pacquiao had earned a clear decision.

Judges Craig Metcalfe and Michael Pernick scored it 116-112 for Pacquiao, while Glenn Trowbridge favored the Filipino congressman 118-110.

The Associated Press scored it 116-112 for Pacquiao.

BASEBALL GM’s contract extended

The St. Louis Cardinals extended the contract of General Manager John Mozeliak for two years through the 2018 season. Mozeliak, 45, has been with the Cardinals organization for the past 19 seasons, the past six as GM. During Mozeliak’s tenure, the Cardinals have been to the postseason four times, winning two National League pennants and a World Series in 2011. The Cardinals also have been recognized twice by Baseball America as the organization of the year (2011 and 2013). Mozeliak also has negotiated contracts to keep several key players under team control, including Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter.

Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara is still out because of stiffness in his right shoulder and it’s uncertain when he will be able to pitch again. Red Sox Manager John Farrell said Uehara was unavailable for Saturday’s game at Yankee Stadium. Uehara felt discomfort during warmups Friday night before a 4-2 victory over New York. Uehara has said he doesn’t think the problem is a serious one.

The Texas Rangers have acquired right-hander Hector Noesi from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named or cash. Texas also transferred second baseman Jurickson Profar from the 15-day disabled list to 60-day DL on Saturday to make room on the 40-man roster. Noesi was designated for assignment by Seattle on April 4 after two relief appearances during the first week of the season. He was 0-1 while allowing three runs in one inning of work. He has a 4-16 career record with a 5.64 ERA in 66 games (21 starts) for the New York Yankees (2011) and Seattle (2012-14). Profar started the season on the DL with a torn muscle in his right shoulder. The first date he would be eligible to return is May 29.

Blake Beavan will be recalled from the minors to make the start Tuesday when the Seattle Mariners play in Texas against the Rangers. Seattle Manager Lloyd McClendon announced the decision Saturday, but did not indicate what the corresponding roster move will be. Beavan, currently at Class AAA Tacoma, is expected to meet the club in Texas on Monday. Beavan is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 starts for Tacoma. Seattle needed an extra starter after James Paxton went on the disabled list earlier this week. There was a question if Taijuan Walker, who was slowed during spring training with a sore shoulder, would be ready to join the rotation after throwing at Class AA Jackson earlier this week. McClendon said the team wants to remain cautious with Walker, and he’ll report to Tacoma and make his next start there.

TENNIS All-Spanish final set

Fourth-seeded Marcel Granollers will face eighth-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in an all-Spanish final at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco, after both won their semifinals Saturday. Granollers had an easier time, beating No. 6 Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-1, 6-4, and Garcia-Lopez followed up by taking nearly three hours to get the better of countryman Roberto Carballes Baena 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4. Granollers was more solid on serve and was broken only once by Delbonis, who lost his own serve five times.

Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland was overcome by Alize Cornet of France 0-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the Katowice (Poland) Open semifinals on Saturday. Cornet will face first-time WTA finalist Camila Giorgi of Italy. Radwanska didn’t concede a set to Cornet in three previous matches, including at Indian Wells last month, and the hometown favorite won the first set quickly. Cornet levelled, but Radwanska had a point for 4-0 in the third when she began to unravel. Cornet won six of the last seven games for only her second career victory over a top-three player. She will play for her fourth career title against Giorgi, who beat third-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-6 (2), 6-4. Giorgi, who hadn’t reached a WTA quarterfinals until this week, beat two top-20 players in the same tournament for the second time.

Tenth-ranked Richard Gasquet has pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters after failing to shake off a back injury. Gasquet, who also missed France’s Davis Cup quarterfinal victory against Germany last weekend, hoped to take part in the tournament after returning to training this week. His absence means 12th-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, initially facing Ernest Gulbis in the first round, moves to ninth seed and has a bye into the second round.

HOCKEY Union takes title

Tiny Union College skated off Saturday with the biggest trophy in college hockey. And the Dutchmen did it at the expense of two of the sport’s giants, toppling Minnesota for its first NCAA title after beating Boston College in the semifinals. Union scored three times in a 1:54 span in the first period in a 7-4 victory, two nights after Daniel Ciampini scored three goals in a 5-4 victory over Boston College. Union (32-6-4) won its final 12 games and went 16-0-1 in its last 17. The 2,200-student liberal arts college in Schenectady, N.Y., competes in Division III in all other sports. After Minnesota took a 2-1 lead, Mike Vecchione tied it with 4:01 left in the first, Eli Lichtenwald gave Union the lead 57 seconds later, and Ciampini capped the spree with 2:57 to go. Union captain Mat Bodie, Max Novak and Kevin Sullivan also scored and Colin Stevens made 36 saves.

FOOTBALL

Lawmakers oppose union

Lawmakers in the football-mad state of Ohio are pushing back against a movement to unionize college athletes. A measure approved by the state House this past week sets out to say college athletes aren’t public employees. It appears to be the first proposal of its kind to clear a state legislative chamber. The amendment is in response to a National Labor Relations Board official’s recent ruling declaring full-scholarship players at Northwestern University employees and therefore eligible to unionize. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Connecticut are considering a move opposite of the one in Ohio by trying to clear the path for college athletes to unionize if they want. Observers say they wouldn’t be surprised if more states with powerful athletic programs at public universities follow the lead of lawmakers in Ohio.