Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik‘s title defense against Paul Williams has been postponed because of an infection in Pavlik’s left hand.
Pavlik was scheduled to fight Williams at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Oct. 3. Top Rank spokesman Lee Samuels on Monday said the company now expects the fight to be held Nov. 21 or Dec. 5 in the same arena on HBO, but Williams promoter Dan Goossen said he hasn’t agreed to anything.
Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs), who holds the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization 160- pound belts, has an infection in a knuckle on the left middle finger.
“He can’t spar with it,” Samuels said. “It’s been bothering him for some time, and he just went to see a doctor again.”
Rangers sign forward Prospal
NEW YORK — The New York Rangers signed free agent Vinny Prospal, reuniting the former Tampa Bay Lightning forward with coach John Tortorella.
Two seasons ago, Prospal had a career-high 33 goals to lead the Philadelphia Flyers before joining the Lightning for the third time in his career. In 874 career games, Prospal, 34, has 198 goals and 599 points.
Murray bumps Nadal to No. 3
MONTREAL — Andy Murray has overtaken Rafael Nadal in the ATP rankings, becoming the first British man to reach No. 2.
Roger Federer is still No. 1 in Monday’s rankings. Murray’s Rogers Cup title in Montreal last week moved him up to No. 2 for the first time, while Nadal is now No. 3 after being ranked No. 1 from August 2008 through June 2009.
Dinara Safina remains No. 1 in the WTA rankings, followed by No. 2 Serena Williams and No. 3 Venus Williams.
• Gilles Muller of Luxembourg has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of a knee injury.
• Sixth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, citing fatigue, withdrew from this week’s $3 million Cincinnati Masters.
Syracuse to play Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Syracuse has agreed to play three home football games against Notre Dame and Southern California over the next seven years in the new stadium at the Meadowlands.
The Orange will face USC in 2012 and Notre Dame in 2014 and 2016.
• Reserve running back Kye Staley will miss Oklahoma State’s upcoming season with a knee injury.
• An Albuquerque lawyer claims a New Mexico football administrative assistant was improperly fired after coach Mike Locksley determined she wasn’t “a younger gal” who would entice recruits.
However, athletic director Paul Krebs disputed the allegations by attorney Whitney Warner concerning her client, Sylvia Lopez.
Warner told the Albuquerque Journal that Locksley told the 54-year-old Lopez she was too old to be attractive to recruits.
Raptors, Bucks agree to deal
MILWAUKEE — The Toronto Raptors agreed to send swingman Carlos Delfino and guard Roko Ukic to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for forward Amir Johnson and former Nuggets prospect Sonny Weems.
The Associated Press
