Area boxers compete in Lewiston
Fighters representing Wyman’s Boxing Club in Stockton Springs and Thunderpig Boxing/Young’s MMA in Bangor were among those competing on a 13-fight amateur boxing card in Lewiston on Saturday.
Christian Fisk, an 18-year-old from Rockport, improved his record to 5-1 with a three-round victory by unanimous decision at the Longley Elementary School, though Wyman’s Boxing Club teammate Ashen Wells of Searsport did not get a chance to fight when her scheduled opponent had to drop out due to a concussion.
Rick Miles of Brewer and Thunderpig/Young’s made a successful amateur debut with a unanimous decision over Andrew Follett of First Class MMA in Topsham. Teammate Jayda Bailey, a Hermon High School student from Levant, dropped her boxing debut by split-decision loss.
Senators trade Zibanejad to Rangers for Bressard
The New York Rangers acquired forward Mika Zibanejad from Ottawa Senators on Monday in exchange for forward Derick Brassard.
As part of the trade, the Rangers acquired a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL draft from the Senators, who also get a seventh-round pick in the same draft.
Zibanejad, 23, skated in 81 games with Ottawa last season, registering 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) and 18 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in several categories in 2015-16, including games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals (seven) and faceoff win percentage (50.5)
Brassard, 28, played in 254 games with the Rangers over parts of four seasons, recording 174 points (69 goals, 105 assists).
Brassard was selected in the first round (sixth overall) by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2006 draft. Brassard established an NHL career high with a team-leading 27 goals for the Rangers in 2015-16.
Saban suspends OL Taylor after DUI arrest
A day after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence, Alabama offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor was suspended indefinitely by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban.
“We are very disappointed any time a player makes a choice that leads to this kind of behavior,” Saban said in a statement announcing the suspension. “We are still in the process of gathering all of the details on the situation, but from a football standpoint, Alphonse Taylor has been indefinitely suspended from the team.”
Taylor, a preseason second-team All-SEC selection, also left the scene of the accident, according to the Tuscaloosa Police Department. He was cited for leaving the scene of an accident.
Saban’s patience might be wearing thin with Taylor, who started all 15 games last season at right guard. But the 6-foot-6, 345-pounder’s lack of conditioning and offseason weight gain already had him in Saban’s doghouse.
Veteran CB Tillman retires
Veteran cornerback Charles Tillman took to social media to announce his retirement on Monday.
Tillman ended his NFL career after 13 seasons by taking to Twitter and posting a YouTube video.
The 35-year-old Tillman was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a 2013 Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient.
Tillman played in 12 games with Carolina in 2015, recording 55 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The four contests he missed were due to a partially torn ACL, but Tillman returned to play on the injury for the final three weeks of the regular season.
Selected in the second round of the 2003 draft, Tillman recorded 911 tackles, 38 interceptions and 44 forced fumbles in his career with the Chicago Bears and Panthers.