Digest

BOXING

'Rumble in the Jungle' belt sells for $6.1m

Muhammad Ali's championship belt from his 1974"Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight title fight was sold at auction on Sunday for $6.18 million.

The winner of the heated competition for the belt was Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, according to Heritage Auctions in Dallas.

In a tweet Sunday, Irsay confirmed he acquired the belt for his collection of rock music, American history and pop culture memorabilia that is currently touring the country.

The belt will be displayed on Aug 2 at Chicago's Navy Pier and on Sept 9 in Indianapolis.

"Proud to be the steward!" Irsay tweeted. "After several hours of watching two bidders go back and forth over this belt, this proved to be a battle worthy of the Rumble itself," Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports auctions, said in a statement.

The 1974 fight was one of boxing's most memorable moments. Ali stopped the fearsome George Foreman to recapture the heavyweight title in the African nation of Zaire. Ali won the fight with an eighth-round knockout.

SOCCER

China draws with Japan at East Asian tourney

China drew 0-0 against host Japan thanks to key saves from goalkeeper Han Jiaqi in the men's EAFF E-1 Football Championship in Aichi on Sunday.

The game got off to a frantic start as China's Wen Jiabao fired the first shot on goal just seconds into the contest to force a corner.

Japan, however, soon took control of possession and created several chances but was denied by goalkeeper Han. China was limited to a few counterattacks as it struggled to find a way past Japan's solid defense.

China lost its opening game 3-0 against South Korea, and almost grabbed an unlikely win when captain Zhu Chenjie fired home from the center of the penalty area with about 10 minutes left.

"The most important thing was to take some positives from this game after the disappointment of the South Korea match－especially in terms of defensive stability and, most of all, offensive impact," said Team China head coach Aleksandar Jankovic.

"After 90 minutes against a very strong Japan side, we are satisfied."

On Wednesday, China will face Hong Kong, China, who lost 3-0 to South Korea earlier on Sunday.

BASEBALL

Slugger Ortiz enters Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, whose batting helped spark the club to three MLB titles, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The ceremony was staged near the baseball museum at Cooperstown, New York.

The 46-year-old Dominican nicknamed "Big Papi" was part of the team that ended Boston's 86-year title drought by winning the 2004 World Series and added crowns in 2007 and 2013, when he was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.

"My teammates were always there for me and that's something I'm always going to appreciate," Ortiz said of his Red Sox years.

"Teammates are your second family. I'm going to love you guys forever... thank you guys for the rest of my life. I don't think I would have made it without all of you."

Ortiz was a first baseman and designated hitter in 20 MLB seasons, finishing his career with a.286 batting average, 541 home runs and 1,768 runs batted in.

Judge hits 37th homer as Yanks blank Orioles

Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 37th home run, fellow All-Star Nestor Cortes pitched six sharp innings and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-0 on Sunday.

Jose Trevino, another Yankees All-Star, produced the first four-hit game of his career. New York, with the best record in the big leagues, took two of three and has now won 22 of its 32 completed series this year.

Judge has seven home runs in his last nine games and leads the majors with 81 RBIs.

Cortes (8-3) allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked none. Clarke Schmidt pitched three innings and earned his first career save.

New York scored three times in the third on a double by DJ LeMahieu and a two-run drive by Judge off Dean Kremer (3-2).

TENNIS

Alcaraz loses Hamburg thriller to Musetti

Lorenzo Musetti needed six match points on Sunday to upset top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 in the final of the Hamburg European Open.

The 20-year-old Italian claimed his first tour-level title in two hours and 47 minutes.

Alcaraz was aiming to improve his 5-0 record in finals and was also chasing his fifth title this year alone after wins in Madrid, Barcelona, Miami and Rio de Janeiro.

The 19-year-old Spaniard fought back from 5-3 down in the second set and saved five match points to take the Hamburg final to a third set.

But Musetti didn't fold and the 62nd-ranked player from Carrara, Italy, finally took his chance at the sixth time of asking.

"I have no words because it was a roller-coaster until the end," Musetti said.

"I had so many match points. Carlos was so good on the match points, (I had) so many chances."

Agencies