Sports briefs for July 8, 2005

Friday, July 8, 2005 | 9:56 a.m.

Officials work to bring home body of fighter

The World Boxing Council is working to speed the return of a Mexican boxer who died after being knocked out during a bout in Las Vegas.

Martin "The Firefighter" Sanchez died Saturday at Valley Hospital Medical Center, hours after being knocked out by Rustam Nugaev of Russia in a super lightweight bout.

The 26-year-old boxer from Mexico City was a member of a district fire department. His colleagues planned a large memorial service, but say paperwork and other logistical problems have delayed the body's return.

Jose Sulaiman, president of the Mexico City-based WBC, said in a statement Thursday that his office had been working with officials in Nevada and Sanchez's widow to speed up the process.

Sanchez was knocked out in the ninth round Friday night. He had been bleeding from the nose and mouth but did not appear seriously injured as he left the ring.

His death was the fifth boxing fatality in Nevada since 1994.

Purses raised at U.S. Open

Winning the U.S. Open tennis championships will be worth more this year.

Tournament officials announced Thursday that the men's and women's singles champions would be guaranteed $1.1 million each, with the possibility of stretching that to $2.2 million. The opportunity to double the winners' purses is part of the promotion for the U.S. Tennis Association's Open Series. That consists of 10 ATP (for men) and WTA (for women) tournaments in North America over six weeks, beginning July 18.

The first three men and the first three women in the final standings will earn bonus money for their finishes in the U.S. Open. The bonuses will be 100 percent of their Open purses for the winners, 50 percent for second place and 25 percent for third place. In addition, both winners will receive a 2006 Lexus GS 430 automobile. The Open will be played Aug. 29 through Sept. 11 at the National Tennis Center in Queens.

This year, depending on bonus money, the total purse could exceed $20 million, the highest purse in an annual sports event. At the Wimbledon championships, which ended last Sunday, the total prize money was $17,750,498.

On a cool day on Newport's grass courts, Spadea broke Vemic's first two service games en route to an easy first-set win.

After Vemic settled down in the second set, Spadea broke again in the seventh game to take control.

Coaches hope to move up draft deadline

College basketball coaches are hoping NBA officials will move up the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft and then give them just 72 hours to withdraw.

The proposal being urged by the National Association of Basketball Coaches would give players until one week after the national championship game to make a decision. They would then have three days to withdraw.

Current rules give players until mid-May to declare for the draft. They can then withdraw their name up until one week before the draft, typically held in late June, and players who weren't drafted and did not sign or receive benefits from an agent can re-enroll in school within 30 days.

Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC, said coaches showed strong support for the proposed change at a meeting this week in Indianapolis.

-- Sun wire services