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sports Monday 2 noveMber 2020
Gervonta Davis stops Leo Santa Cruz in 6th at Alamodome

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ In the fifth round, Davis be-
Associated Press gan to assert control with
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Ger- a series of body shots that
vonta "Tank" Davis knocked slowed Santa Cruz.
out Leo Santa Cruz with a "When I started breaking
stunning uppercut in the him down to the body, I felt
sixth round to retain his WBA him breaking down," Davis
lightweight championship said. "There were shots that
and take Santa Cruz's WBA I was hitting him with, and
junior lightweight title Sat- it was touching his gloves,
urday night at the Alamo- but his head was going
dome. (back). So, I'm like, he's
Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) breaking down for sure. So,
stunned Santa Cruz with a that's when I started press-
pair of left-handed hooks ing him."
to the side of the head in Santa Cruz suffered a low
the sixth round to set up the blow with 1:21 remaining in
final blow. With Santa Cruz the sixth round, which Da-
retreating to his own cor- vis protested. This time the
ner, Davis delivered a left- warning fueled Davis, who
handed uppercut to the staggered Santa Cruz with
jaw that dropped Santa two left hooks to the side of
Cruz immediately. Barrios' temple. Santa Cruz
Referee Rafael Ramos Gervonta Davis walks away after knocking out Leo Santa Cruz during the sixth round of a boxing smiled after the first left
stepped in quickly to stop bout Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in San Antonio. Associated Press hook, but Davis charged at
the bout 2:40 into the sixth him and delivered another
with Santa Cruz uncon- "That shot (the final up- "I wanted to make sure he slip early in the second left hook before ending the
scious with his right leg bent percut), a couple of times was OK," Davis said. "We round, which led to Ramos bout with a left uppercut.
behind him. (prior) he was blocking it," fighters, we go in there cautioning Davis. The warn- In the co-main event, Ma-
"I'm so, so proud of him," Davis said. "It was stuff that, with a killer mindset at the ing upset Davis and fueled rio Barrios retained his WBA
said Hall of Famer boxer me just not going away end of the day we all have Santa Cruz. super lightweight champi-
Floyd Mayweather, who is from that punch and keep families to go home to and Santa Cruz became the onship with a sixth-round
Davis' promoter. testing it." I definitely didn't want any- aggressor in the third round knockout against Ryan Karl
"I'm probably happier than Santa Cruz (37-2-1) re- thing crazy to happen to following his early success. before a hometown crowd
he is." mained unconscious for a him." Davis responded in the at the Alamodome.
Headlining his first pay-per- few minutes before rising The fighters exchanged a fourth round with a series The bouts were part of the
view, Davis silenced critics with assistance and smiling series of blows in the open- of heavy blows to the head first major boxing card with
who questioned his disci- while sitting on a stool to ing round while standing that seemed to stun Santa a live audience since the
pline due to a history of acknowledge that he was toe to toe. Davis hit the Cruz and slowed him early Coronavirus pandemic
struggling to make weight. fine. Although he waved to canvas late in the opening in the round. Santa Cruz shuttered all sports drew
He also demonstrated his the crowd and walked to round after taking a right would rally late with an 9,024 fans to the Alamo-
poise and repertoire at 25 the locker room on his own, hook to the jaw, but Ramos overhand right straight to dome. Seating was limited
years old against one of Santa Cruz was taken to quickly ruled it a slip after the nose that caused Davis to 11,000 due to social dis-
boxing's most skilled fight- the hospital afterwards as the fighters got tangled up. to take a couple of steps tancing at the 72,000-seat
ers. a precautionary measure. Santa Cruz suffered his own back to gather himself. facility.q

Carthy wins Vuelta 12th stage, Carapaz retakes overall lead

ALTO DE L'ANGLIRU, Spain seconds behind Carapaz happy with this result."
(AP) — Hugh Carthy pre- in the overall standings. Riders faced five climbs in
vailed on the grueling fi- Carthy entered the mix for the 109.4-kilometer (67.9-
nal climb at the Alto de overall winner, moving 32 mile) route that culminated
L'Angliru to win the 12th seconds off the lead. with the steep slopes of the
stage of the Spanish Vuelta "This climb made a natural Alto de L'Angliru.
on Sunday, with Richard selection," Carapaz said. Two-time champion Chris
Carapaz retaking the over- "We already spent a lot of Froome, out of contention
all lead from defending energy yesterday. And it after struggling in the first
champion Primoz Roglic. was a very hard stage to- few stages, was briefly in
It was the first Grand Tour day." front of the pack going into
stage win for Carthy, who Roglic, the Jumbo-Visma the final climb on Sunday.
made his attack entering rider who was a contender Riders will get their second
the final kilometer of the at the Tour de France until rest day in the three-week
decisive climb. The British the final competitive stage, Vuelta on Monday.
rider from EF Pro Cycling entered Sunday's Vuelta The following day they A team EF's cyclist protects himself to the cold weather at the
finished 16 seconds ahead stage with the same time face a 33-kilometer individ- end of the eighth stage of La Vuelta between Logrono and Alto
of a group of three riders as Carapaz, who rides for ual time trial in a 13th stage de Moncalvillo, in Logrono, northern Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 28,
— Aleksandr Vlasov, En- Ineos Grenadiers. where climbers will likely 2020.
ric Mas and Carapaz.Ro- "It was too hard a climb struggle and windy condi- Associated Press
glic crossed the line in fifth for a sprinter," Roglic said. tions can play a decisive The Vuelta is in its final week navirus pandemic. It ends
place — 26 seconds behind "I didn't have the best day role at the mostly flat sea- amid tight health restric- next Sunday in Madrid.q
Carthy — and dropped 10 but in the end it's OK. I'm shore route. tions because of the coro-