Sports briefs for September 24, 2004

Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 | 10:03 a.m.

Toney pounds out lopsided decision

James Toney relentlessly pursued Rydell Booker and punched him almost at will on his way to a lopsided decision in their 12-round heavyweight fight Thursday night at Temecula, Calif.

Winning his 10th consecutive fight -- and his first in almost a year -- Toney consistently rocked Booker with right uppercuts and had him wobbling several times, but could not finish him.

Toney hadn't fought since beating Evander Holyfield in October. He was scheduled to meet Jameel McCline in February but had to cancel after he ruptured an Achilles' tendon in training.

Toney, who won three championship belts at lower weights and is aiming for a shot at a heavyweight title, hit Booker with a series of hard shots midway through the eighth round. Booker dropped to a knee and took an eight-count. Although the crowd at Penchanga Resort and Casino booed him loudly, he was able to finish the round.

Despite taking a pounding the entire fight, that was the only time Booker went down.

Judge Frank Garza gave every round to Toney, scoring it 120-107. Barry Druxman had it 118-108, and Marty Denkin favored Toney 117-110.

Singh leads '84'

An 8-under-64 gave Vijay Singh the first-round lead of hte 84 Lumber Classic at Farmington, Pa. If Singh wins the $4.2 million event, he would surpass Tiger Woods' single-season earnings record of $9.1 million set in 2000.

No bonus for Lance

SCA Promotions, the Dallas-based company that owes Lance Armstrong $5 million for winning a record sixth consecutive Tour de France, is withholding payment of the bonus, citing allegations in a French book that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Owner is 1-2 in Jug

Timesarechanging and Western Terror, both owned by David Brooks, finished 1-2 in the Littlel Brown Jug at Delaware, Ohio. The victory gave Timesarechanging two-thirds of pacing's triple crown. He was a dead heat winner with Western Terror in the Cane Pace and second to Metropolitan in the Messenger Stakes.

Serena, Sharapova win

Top-seeded Serena Williams and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova won quarterfinals today at the China Open in Beijing when their opponents retired because of ankle injuries. Williams will face Vera Zvonareva and Sharapova will meet Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals.

Rodman eyes Nuggets

Dennis Rodman, 43, had what general manager Kiki Vandeweghe called an "informal" workout wth members of the Denver Nuggets.