Sports Briefs: Leonard, King to enter boxing Hall

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y., is making room for one of boxing's golden boys and a flamboyant promoter whose resiliency amid controversy has earned him a Teflon reputation.

Sugar Ray Leonard and Don King headed the 1997 induction class announced Tuesday. The new 13-member class also included former light heavyweight champion Jose Torres, now a successful author and boxing administrator.

The hall's newest members will be inducted in a ceremony June 15. They represent four categories: modern, old-timer, pioneer and non-participant.

Welterweight champion Luis Rodriguez and featherweight champion Chalky Wright joined Leonard and Torres from the modern era.

In other boxing news:

* John Ruiz of Methuen, Mass., pounded out a 12-round split decision over James Thunder of Las Vegas Tuesday night to win the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight championship in Kansas City, Mo. Two judges favored Ruiz 116-111 and 115-112, while one judge voted for Thunder 115-112. Ruiz improved his record to 30-3. Thunder, who was born in New Zealand, dropped to 31-7 and lost for the first time in six fights since he began training under former world light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.

Baiul surrenders

Oksana Baiul, unshakable as she skated to an Olympic gold in 1994, plans to handle her recent fall from grace like a champion. Baiul surrendered to police in Bloomfield, Conn., Tuesday on charges she drove drunk and recklessly when her Mercedes went off the road in a crash over the weekend. The 19-year-old Ukrainian was released without bond. She is scheduled to appear Jan. 27 in West Hartford Superior Court. She had a blood-alcohol level of 0.168 percent.

Wisconsin, Syracuse in Kickoff Classic

For the second time in three years, the Kickoff Classic is shaping up as a Big Ten-Big East matchup. The organizers of college football's traditional opener were trying to finalize an agreement Tuesday that will match Wisconsin against Syracuse at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 24. Schools selected to play in the 15th Kickoff Classic are guaranteed a minimum $675,000 payday. Ohio State of the Big Ten defeated Boston College 38-6 two years ago in the last Kickoff Classic matchup between the two conferences. Penn State beat Southern Cal 24-7 in last year's Kickoff Classic.

Eddie Mathews hospitalized

Eddie Mathews, a Hall of Fame third baseman for the Milwaukee Braves, is hospitalized in Encinitas, Calif., as he recovers from a freak boating accident in the Cayman Islands. Mathews, 65, sustained a broken pelvis in the December accident, and also is being treated for pneumonia and a rapid heartbeat. Hospital spokeswoman Carol Green said Mathews is in serious but stable condition.

Magic's Anderson cleared

Orlando Magic guard Nick Anderson was cleared of a rape accusation when the state attorney's office said it would not prosecute the case because of insufficient evidence.

In other NBA news:

* The Chicago Bulls activated center Luc Longley and placed guard Ron Harper on the injured list. Longley hasn't played since separating his left shoulder while body surfing off the California coast in November. Harper has a strained back.

Leonard