IN BRIEF (Page 24)
Boxing
Former world champion Corrales dies in crash
LONDON: Former WBC and WBO lightweight champion Diego Corrales has died after a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas, US media reported on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old American, who also won a world title at super-featherweight, was reported to have collided with a car at high speed 10 miles west of Las Vegas late on Monday.
His gruelling victory over Jose Luis Castillo in 2005, in which he was knocked down twice before gaining a 10th-round stoppage, was voted by The Boxing Writers Association of America as the fight of the year.
Corrales, who lost to Castillo five months later in a re-match posted 40 victories in his career with just five losss. His last fight ended in defeat in April this year when he was beaten by Joshua Clottey after moving up to welterweight.
Soccer
Watford manager gets new deal despite drop
LONDON: Watford have agreed a new three-year deal with manager Aidy Boothroyd, on improved terms, despite their relegation from the Premier League. The 36-year-old, who took the Hornets up from the second division last year, has signed a deal that will keep him at Vicarage Road until 2010.
Boothroyd, who was appointed in March 2005, told the club's website: "I'm a great believer in stability and it's important that our thinking goes beyond that of the short-termism that you often see in football.
Beckham will move to Beverly Hills mansion
MADRID: English soccer star David Beckham will move to Beverly Hills, California in July to a mansion he purchased in view of his future soccer career in the United States playing for Los Angeles' Galaxy club, according to reports on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old midfielder currently playing for Spain's Real Madrid soccer club and his wife, former "Spice Girl" Victoria, bought their house in California, Beckham's spokesman Jeff Raymond was quoted as saying by Spanish sports Marca daily.
Raymond said Beckham and Victoria bought a 0.4-hectare house, although he refused to confirm Los Angeles Times' version saying the couple paid a $22-million down payment for a 1,200-square-meter house.
They will move to the house once his contract with Real Madrid concludes in June.
Cricket
Injury scare for England's Pietersen
LONDON: Kevin Pietersen gave England a scare ahead of next week's first test against West Indies when he suffered a calf strain playing for Hampshire.
The 26-year-old batsman was hurt in Monday's one-day match against Ireland, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a news release.
"He underwent a precautionary MRI scan earlier today (Tuesday) and has been withdrawn from tomorrow's (Wednesday's) county championship match against Lancashire," said the ECB.
"A further assessment of the injury will be made later this week."
England already have fitness doubts over captain Michael Vaughan for the first test at Lord's starting on May 17.
Vaughan, who has not played in a test for 18 months due to other injuries, broke his finger last Thursday while batting for Yorkshire against Hampshire.
(China Daily 05/10/2007 page24)
