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SPORTS Friday 8 November 2019

Japan's Naoya Inoue holds the Muhammad Ali Trophy after
winning the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight final
match in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019.
Associated Press
Naoya Inoue defeats

Nonito Donaire in World

Boxing Super Series final The MLS Cup trophy is displayed Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Seattle. Associated Press

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Naoya Inoue won a unanimous Union prepared to strike if deal

decision over Nonito Donaire on Thursday in the World can't be reached with MLS
Boxing Super Series bantamweight final.
Inoue, the IBF world bantamweight champion from Ja-
pan, sent Donaire to the canvas in the 11th round at By ANNE M. PETERSON gaged for a year and that "We and our players are fo-
Saitama Super Arena with a body blow to the abdomen. AP Sports Writer the league has been trans- cused on doing everything
Donaire got back up to finish the round and the bout but The head of the Major parent with its financials. possible to reach an agree-
couldn't turn things around. League Soccer Players As- One issue that is likely to be ment that'll make sense
The three judges scored the bout 116-111, 117-109, 114- sociation said players are contentious is free agency. for ownership and makes
113 in favor of Inoue, who improved to 19-0 with 16 knock- prepared to strike if they In 2015, the players agreed sense for the players," Gar-
outs. Donaire, who is from the Philippines, dropped to 40-6 can't negotiate an ac- to terms that allowed lim- ber told The Associated
with 26 KOs. ceptable collective bar- ited free agency for play- Press.
Donaire opened a cut above Inoue's right eye with a left gaining agreement with ers who are at least 28 "You know, those conver-
hook in the second round. He was in control until the fifth the league. years old or have at least sations are ongoing and
when Inoue landed a right hook to the jaw, stunning the "We've been talking about eight years in the league they've been productive.
WBA and WBC world bantamweight title holder and seiz- and preparing for a work and aren't under contract. As the league continues to
ing momentum. stoppage for two and a The agreement also lim- grow, more opportunity ex-
On the undercard, Nordine Oubaali of France (17-0, 12 half years now at this point, ited what these players ists for everyone and more
KOs) defeated Inoue's younger brother, Takuma Inoue and talking about the de- could make. At the time, issues exist that we have to
(13-1, three KOs), by unanimous decision to retain his tails of what that would look the league wanted tighter manage as the league de-
WBC bantamweight title.q like and how it would pro- control over player move- velops."
ceed, and how we would ment, while the union ar- "You know how passionate
all work together," MLSPA gued players should have I've been about charter
De Minaur, Tiafoe, Executive Director Bob more freedom. Foose said travel in the past, and I will
Foose said. "And the play-
that's a priority again.
continue to stress that for
Kecmanovic reach ers are very serious when Another sticking point is me, that plays an impor-
tant part. However, I would
they say they're ready to likely to be Targeted Al-
Next Gen semifinals do what's best for the full location Money, or TAM, say that we're prioritizing
player pool and the future which was introduced in all the issues," said Alejan-
of the players association 2015. The league maintains dro Bedoya, who plays for
MILAN (AP) — Top-seeded Alex de Minaur, second-seed- and the league." it allows teams to attract the Philadelphia Union and
ed Frances Tiafoe and Miomir Kecmanovic all advanced Foose spoke on a confer- and retain players under said he felt that easier trav-
to the semifinals of the Next Gen Finals with straight-set ence call with reporters strict guidelines. el could have prevented a
wins Thursday. Thursday as the league "The impact of TAM, a late-season injury.
De Minaur, who finished runner-up last year in the season- prepared for the MLS Cup made-up set of restrictions Bedoya said the players
ending tournament for the top under-21 players, beat championship game be- done from a central office have resolve heading into
Casper Ruud 4-1, 4-0, 4-2 in just 61 minutes to finish 3-0 in tween the Seattle Sounders to try and dictate to all of the thick of negotiations.
Group A. and Toronto FC on Sunday. our franchises how they "I don't want to sound too
De Minaur's semifinal opponent will be Tiafoe, who de- The current collective bar- build their rosters, in my es- pessimistic, but I think it's
feated Mikael Ymer 4-2, 4-2, 4-2. gaining agreement expires timation didn't really add kind of been a little frustrat-
Kecmanovic beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-1, 4-1, on Jan. 31. anything to this league," ing for the players. For us, at
4-3 (6) and will face Italian teenager Jannik Sinner for a Foose ran down some of Foose said. "And it's certain- least, I think it's been slow in
spot in the final. the union's priorities as the ly frustrated and angered terms of the responses from
Kecmanovic finished with a 2-1 record in Group A at the offseason looms, includ- both the players associa- the league. We've made
event, which features a unique format where each set is ing free agency, a simpler tion and our players." proposals recently, and we
first to four games. compensation and bud- On Wednesday, MLS Com- haven't really got substan-
Tiafoe was 2-1 in Group B, while Sinner advanced by win- get rule system, travel ac- missioner Don Garber indi- tive responses from them —
ning his opening two matches in the group. commodations and overall cated that he was encour- although we hope it does
U.S. women to open Olympic qualifying in Houston in Jan- compensation. He said the aged by the state of the come up in the next few
uary. q two sides have been en- negotiations. days or so," Bedoya said.q