BOXING
Crawford stops Kavaliauskas
Terence Crawford knocked down Egidijus Kavaliauskas three times before stopping him in the ninth round Saturday night to remain unbeaten and defend his welterweight title at Madison Square Garden. Kavaliauskas had never been knocked down as a pro and Crawford said last week he couldn't recall even seeing him hurt. But Crawford dropped the challenger once in the seventh round and twice more in the ninth before referee Ricky Gonzalez stopped it at 44 seconds of the round. Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) absorbed perhaps more shots than usual but seemed to enjoy getting to show he has power, too, letting out a big smile as Kavaliauskas returned to his corner looking frustrated after one round late in the fight. Kavaliauskas (21-1-1), a Lithuanian who was the mandatory challenger for Crawford's WBO belt, had some good moments in the first few rounds before Crawford took control midway through the fight and then poured it on late.
FIGURE SKATING
Olympic champion takes leave
The Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova is skipping the rest of this season to find her motivation again. That means that the 17-year-old Russian won't defend her world title in the spring. She hasn't set a date for her return to competition. Zagitova told Russian state TV on Friday that she's struggled to motivate herself ever since winning the Olympic title in 2018. "I've got everything now in life, and I always think that there should be something you don't have. So I want to get back that feeling of wanting to compete," she said. "You wake up at six in the morning and you have to be at the rink until nine in the evening. I've got tired of that schedule." Zagitova's announcement comes a week after she placed sixth and last at the Grand Prix Finals. Three younger Russian skaters working with her Coach Eteri Tutberidze, swept the podium, with two of those landing quadruple jumps, something Zagitova has never managed to do. She denied any conflict with Tutberidze, who has coached a succession of young Russian women's skaters to stardom in recent years.
FOOTBALL
Niners activate DL Street
The San Francisco 49ers activated defensive lineman Kentavius Street to the active roster from injured reserve Saturday and placed defensive lineman D.J. Jones on injured reserve. Jones sprained his ankle last week in a win at New Orleans and will be shut down for the rest of the season. Street was a fourth-round pick by San Francisco in 2018 and missed all of that season recovering from knee surgery. He was placed on injured reserve again at the start of this season with a knee injury but is now healthy enough to play.
Bears remove Hicks from IR
The Chicago Bears activated defensive tackle Akiem Hicks from injured reserve on Saturday, a day before a key matchup against the rival Green Bay Packers. A Pro Bowl pick last season, Hicks dislocated his elbow during an Oct. 6 game against Oakland in London. "I knew it was coming and prepared accordingly," Hicks said earlier in the week. "One of the things I really focused on was just making sure my elbow was in the strongest place possible." The Bears (7-6) trail the first-place Packers (10-3) by three games in the NFC North. The Bears put tight end Ben Braunecker on injured reserve on Saturday. Braunecker had six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in 11 games this season.
Broncos add to defensive line
The Denver Broncos signed nose tackle Kyle Peko off the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad and promoted defensive lineman Deyon Sizer from their own practice squad Saturday because of a rash of injuries along the defensive line. To make room on the roster, the Broncos waived outside linebacker Ahmad Gooden and placed rookie receiver Juwann Winfree (hamstring) on IR. Peko is a fourth-year pro from Oregon State who has a dozen tackles in 11 career games with the Broncos (2016-17) and Buffalo (2019). He played four games for the Bills this season before being released and signed to the Colts' practice squad. Sizer is a rookie from Colorado State-Pueblo who signed with Denver as a college free agent in May and spent the entire season on the Broncos' practice squad after getting four tackles in three preseason games. The Broncos (5-8) play at Kansas City (9-4) today and will be without defensive ends Adam Gotsis (knee) and DeMarcus Walker (ankle). Derek Wolfe went on IR a couple of weeks ago with an elbow injury. And rookie Dre'Mont Jones (ankle) is questionable.
BOBSLED
Humphries earns a gold
Kaillie Humphries improved to 2-for-2 on the young season, winning another women's bobsled World Cup race at Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Saturday. The former top Canadian driver who joined the U.S. program earlier this year teamed with Lauren Gibbs to finish two runs in 1 minute, 54.03 seconds. It was Humphries' first time winning back-to-back golds since January 2016, and the first time any women's driver has opened a season with two consecutive wins since Elana Meyers Taylor of the U.S. prevailed in the first three events of the 2014-15 season. Germany's Kim Kalicki drove to the silver medal in 1:54.18, or 0.15 seconds behind Humphries. Canada got the bronze, with Christine De Bruin getting her sled across the line in 1:54.25. Earlier Saturday, Canada's Justin Kripps won the season's opening World Cup four-man bobsled race, prevailing at Mount Van Hoevenberg for the second consecutive year.
BASEBALL
Fire ignites at Rangers' park
Fire broke out Saturday at the future home of the Texas Rangers, which is under construction in Arlington. Arlington Fire Department Lt. Mike Joiner said the blaze was brought under control and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire has not been determined. Manhattan Construction, the general contractor for the project, said in a statement that the fire began about 2:30 p.m. in the roof area of the stadium. The contractor said an investigation will determine the cause of the blaze. Rangers spokesman John Blake said the stadium is more than 200 feet tall and the fire was in an area about 100 feet high.
GOLF
Five-way tie at QBE Shootout
Brendon Todd and Billy Horschel shot a 6-under 66 in modified alternate shot Saturday for a share of the second round lead on the QBE Shootout in Naples, Fla. Rory Sabbatini-Kevin Tway (67), Harold Varner III-Ryan Palmer (70), Jason Kokrak-J.T. Poston (68) and Charles Howell III-Bubba Watson (66) also were 19 under. Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell (65) were a stroke back. The tournament will close today with a best-ball round. Todd, the FedEx Cup points leader after victories this season at Bermuda and Mayakoba, ended up with Horschel when Brandt Snedeker withdrew because of an injured left ring finger.
Sports on 12/15/2019