GREG BEACHAM
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and General Secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation, member of the Executive Committee of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Umar Kremlev attend an opening of the new International Sambo and Boxing centre at the Luzhniki Sports Complex in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Boxing body won't hold new election, damaging Olympic hopes

By Greg Beacham Sep. 25, 2022 04:47 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Umar Kremlev will remain the president of the International Boxing

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 8, 2021, in Los Angeles. James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension through the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
LeBron James inks 2-year, $97.1 million deal with Lakers

By Greg Beacham Aug. 17, 2022 04:23 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract

FILE - Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald warms up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Jan. 17, 2022. All-Pro defensive tackle Donald is getting a big raise to stay with the Rams under a reworked contract through 2024. The Super Bowl champion Rams announced Donald's return Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
All-Pro Aaron Donald returning to LA Rams with a big raise

By Greg Beacham Jun. 06, 2022 05:06 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald is getting a big raise to

Metropolitan Division's Claude Giroux, of the Philadelphia Flyers, shoots the puck against the Pacific Division during the second period of a semifinal NHL All-Star hockey game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Giroux named MVP, Metropolitan team wins NHL All-Star Game

By Greg Beacham Feb. 05, 2022 07:37 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — If any hockey executive is somehow still uncertain whether Claude

Bettman: NHL going worldwide with revival of Global Series

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 07:48 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NHL is ready to go worldwide again after two years of

T-Mobile Arena stands in Las Vegas before an NHL hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Las Vegas. The arena is the site for this year's NHL All-Star game. (AP Photo/David Becker)
NHL All-Stars sad to miss Olympics, but happy to be in Vegas

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 04:21 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Most of the world’s best hockey players are spending this weekend in

Algerian judoka banned 10 years for refusing Olympic bout

By Greg Beacham Sep. 13, 2021 04:04 PM EDT
Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine has been banned from competition for 10 years by

Keyshawn Davis, from the United States,left is punched by Cuba's Andy Cruz during their men's lightweight 63-kg boxing gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Davis, Torrez can't end US men's boxing gold medal drought

By Greg Beacham Aug. 08, 2021 05:42 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Richard Torrez Jr. stared up at 6-foot-7 Bakhodir Jalolov and didn

Tareg Hamedi of Saudi Arabia reacts after losing following an injury to Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran in their men's kumite +75kg gold medal bout for karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Olympic karate finishes with cinematic kick, downer ending

By Greg Beacham Aug. 07, 2021 11:05 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The final bout of karate's Olympic debut seemed to have everything

Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak, hits the mat after a punch from Brazil's Hebert Sousa during their men's middleweight 75-kg boxing gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Knockout punch: Brazil's Sousa takes gold on spectacular KO

By Greg Beacham Aug. 07, 2021 05:48 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Hebert Sousa decisively lost each of the first two rounds in the

Richard Torrez Jr., of the United States, left, and Kamshybek Kunkabayev, of Kazakhstan, exchange punches during their super heavy weight +91kg semifinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
US boxers Davis, Torrez can get revenge, win gold medals

By Greg Beacham Aug. 07, 2021 04:46 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics are already the most successful since 2000 for

Cuba's Julio la Cruz celebrates his victory over Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, of the Russian Olympic Committee in the men's heavyweight 91-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Heavyweight La Cruz joins Cuban veterans' 2-time gold rush

By Greg Beacham Aug. 06, 2021 06:49 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Only six fighters had won gold medals in two weight classes in

Sandra Sanchez Jaime of Spain hugs her husband and coach Jesus del Moral after winning the women's kata final bout for Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Sánchez leads first 3 champions in karate's Olympic debut

By Greg Beacham Aug. 05, 2021 09:42 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Sandra Sánchez was the perfect person to stand atop the medal

Albert Batyrgaziev, of the Russian Olympic Committee, right, connects with a punch to Duke Ragan, of the United States, during their final round feather weight 52-57kg final boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Batyrgaziev, Ragan make Olympic history for pro boxers

By Greg Beacham Aug. 05, 2021 05:54 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Albert Batyrgaziev became the first professional boxer to win an

Richard Torrez Jr., of the United States, right, lands a shot to the face of Kamshybek Kunkabayev, of Kazakhstan, during their super heavy weight +91kg semifinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Punching out of it: USA Boxing has Olympic revival in Tokyo

By Greg Beacham Aug. 04, 2021 06:13 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Richard Torrez Jr. went into the Olympic boxing ring Wednesday

A child sits in the Olympic rings on display outside the Olympic Stadium where the athletic events are underway at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
This isn't Cobra Kai: Karate finally makes Olympic debut

By Greg Beacham Aug. 04, 2021 03:32 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — The history of karate’s journey to the Olympics would make a

Britain's Pat McCormack left and Cuba's Roniel Iglesias react after their men's welterweight 69-kg boxing match men's welterweight 69-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Throwback champ Iglesias wins his 2nd boxing gold for Cuba

By Greg Beacham Aug. 03, 2021 08:18 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Roniel Iglesias simply appeared to be fighting on a higher level

Keno Machado, of Brazil, right, punches Benjamin Whittaker, of Great Britain, during their light heavy weight 81kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Dancing to gold? Boxer Whittaker is unlikely contender

By Greg Beacham Aug. 03, 2021 04:18 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Benjamin Whittaker knows his style of boxing usually doesn't work

Eliad Mourad, of France refuses to leave the ring after losing a men's super heavyweight over 91-kg boxing match against Britain's Frazer Clarke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
EXPLAINER: Why is there so much drama in Olympic boxing?

By Greg Beacham Aug. 02, 2021 01:50 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — When Mourad Aliev sat on the boxing ring apron at the Kokugikan

Eliad Mourad, of France talks to Britain's Frazer Clarke after being disqualified during a men's super heavyweight over 91-kg boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
French boxer sits on ring apron in protest after DQ loss

By Greg Beacham Aug. 01, 2021 01:28 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — A French super heavyweight boxer sat on the Olympic ring apron in