This Time, Corrales Doesn’t Make Weight

Diego Corrales turned the tables on himself.

Robbed of a big payday when his last opponent couldn’t make weight, Corrales vowed never to disgrace the sport by not being at the proper weight himself.

So what happened on Friday? Corrales weighed in a whopping five pounds over the weight limit for his World Boxing Council 135-pound title defense against Joel Casamayor tonight at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

“It’s terribly ironic,” promoter Gary Shaw said. “I’m shocked. I don’t know what to say.”

Corrales lost his title on the scale and will be fined by Nevada boxing authorities for not coming close to the weight.

But, after he agreed to give up some of his $1.2-million purse to Casamayor, the fight will go on.

The WBC ruled that Casamayor can win the title by beating Corrales, though Corrales can’t keep it by beating Casamayor.

In addition, if Casamayor loses, he would fight a top contender for the vacant title in his next fight.

The fight was in doubt after Corrales weighed 140 pounds, then came back a short time later and weighed 139 1/2 . He was given two hours to get down to 137, but made it to only 139.

It was the third straight fight for Corrales that hinged on a weigh-in.

Jose Luis Castillo couldn’t make weight twice against Corrales, and the second time Corrales refused to fight him at the higher weight, costing himself a $1.3-million payday.

TENNIS

Federer Reaches Semifinals in Tokyo

Top-ranked Roger Federer defeated Takao Suzuki, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3), to advance to the semifinals of the Japan Open at Tokyo.

He will play Benjamin Becker, who beat fifth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Rain on Thursday caused 12 matches to be postponed.

Tim Henman beat Juan Martin Del Potro, 7-6 (3), 6-3, and Mario Ancic, 6-2, 6-2. He will next play Lee Hyung-taik, who upset second-seeded Tommy Robredo, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1.

In the women’s draw, top-seeded Marion Bartoli advanced to the semifinals by beating Vera Dushvina, 6-2, 6-4, and Junri Namigata, 6-2, 6-1.

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Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated eighth-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the semifinals of the Porsche Grand Prix at Stuttgart, Germany. She will play fourth-seeded Nadia Petrova, who beat Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 6-4.

BASEBALL

Angels Decline 2007 Option on Romero

The Angels declined their $2.75-million option for 2007 on left-handed pitcher J.C. Romero, who can become a free agent after the World Series.

Romero, 30, who had a 1-2 record with a 6.70 earned-run average in 65 relief appearances, received a $25,000 buyout.

WINTER SPORTS

World Cup Champion Kostelic to Skip Season

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Janica Kostelic won’t defend her World Cup overall title this season because of chronic back and knee pain.

Kostelic, 24, who has had 10 knee operations, said she would “pause for a year and then see what will happen,” suggesting she could decide to retire.

She became the most successful female skier in Olympic history when she won gold and silver at the Turin Games, adding to three golds and a silver at Salt Lake City in 2002.

JURISPRUDENCE

State Officials Sue NCAA Over Indian Nickname

State officials filed a lawsuit against the NCAA to challenge its restrictions on the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said the lawsuit seeks to allow the university to use the nickname throughout the school year without being sanctioned in possible postseason play.

The NCAA has banned the use of some American Indian nicknames and logos in postseason tournaments, saying they are hostile to Native Americans.

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A misdemeanor assault charge against former UCLA running back Tyler Ebell was dropped because of insufficient evidence.

Ebell was originally charged in May with felony assault in connection with an April 23 attack on a man at a restaurant in Westwood. A judge later downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor.

PASSINGS

Dick Wagner, 78, Former Reds President

Dick Wagner, a former president of the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros, died Thursday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix from injuries sustained in a 1999 car crash, his wife, Gloria, said. He was 78.