Lewis-Tyson reported set for June
BRISTOL, Conn., March 25 (UPI) --- Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and challenger Mike Tyson are expected to stage their delayed bout June 8 in Memphis, according to several reports Monday.
The fight was originally scheduled for April 6 in Las Vegas but Tyson was denied a license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The license hearing came one week after Tyson and Lewis brawled during a press conference in New York in January.
Tyson (49-3, 43 KOs, 2 no-contests) had his license suspended after biting the ears of Evander Holyfield in their 1997 rematch, and again in 1999 when he hit Orlin Norris after the bell in a fight that resulted in a no-contest. Since then, Tyson has won all four of his fights with three coming overseas. In his most recent bout, Tyson registered a seventh-round technical knockout over Brian Nielsen, Copenhagen, Denmark on Oct. 13.
Lewis (39-2-1, 30 KOs) regained the WBC and IBF belts last Nov.17 when he knocked out Hasim Rahman in the fourth round at Las Vegas. Rahman registered a big upset last April 21 when he stopped Lewis in five rounds in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bucs seek Dunn replacement
BRISTOL, Conn., March 25 (UPI) -- The mpa Bay Buccaneers, looking to fill a vacancy in the backfield following the departure of Warrick Dunn, apparently have reached an agreement with Michael Pittman.
ESPN reported Monday that the Bucs have agreed to a five-year deal with Pittman, a free-agent tailback who has spent the past his first four NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. ESPN did not report financial terms.
The Bucs have been looking for help in the backfield after Dunn signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons. The answer could be Pittman, who has emerged as a solid all-around running back.
Over the past two seasons, Pittman has rushed for 1,565 yards and caught 115 passes.
Cardinals lefthander out indefinitely
JUPITER, Fla., March 25 (UPI) -- Rick Ankiel's career took another turn for the worse when the St. Louis Cardinals lefthander learned that he will be out indefinitely with a strained elbow.
Tests on Saturday found damage that was more extensive than the tendinitis that bothered him after a start in a Grapefruit League on March 3, it was reported Monday.
"It's a strain as well as tendinitis," trainer Barry Weinberg told the St. Louis-Post Dispatch. "He's not going to pitch for a while."
Ankiel pitched in a minor league game on Friday and complained of stiffness, prompting Saturday's tests.
The 22-year-old Ankiel endured a dismal 2001 season in which he battled wildness. After starting the season in St. Louis, he was sent to Class AAA Memphis and later Johnson City of the short-season Appalachian League. He pitched in just six games for the Cardinals and was 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA and 25 walks in 24 innings.
Astros make several roster changes
KISSIMMEE, Fla., March 25 (UPIU) -- The Houston Astros released veteran lefthander C.J. Nitkowski on Monday as part of a series of roster moves.
The 29-year-old Nitkowski was signed to a minor league contract on Jan. 7 and was a non-roster invitee to spring training. But, he was unable to win a roster spot after posting an 0-1 record with a 7.20 ERA in eight relief appearances this spring.
Nitkowski split last season between the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets and owns a career record of 16-30 with a 5.37 ERA over 270 appearances.
The Astros reduced their roster to 29 by reassigning catcher Alan Zinter, infielder Tripp Cromer and outfielder Chris Prieto.
In addition, the Astros announced that pitchers Doug Brocail and Hipolito Pichardo will begin the season on the disabled list.
Brocail missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery on April 27. Pichardo has made only two appearances this spring due to right elbow tendinitis.
Tigrs, Rockies swap relief pitchers
LAKELAND, Fla., March 25 (UPU) -- Following a short stay with the Colorado Rockies, Jose Paniagua has found a new home with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers on Monday acquired the 28-year-old reliever from the Rockies for another reliever, Victor Santos, and minor league infielder Ronnie Merrill.
Paniagua spent 2001 with the Seattle Mariners before being traded to Colorado in an offseason deal that sent third baseman Jeff Cirillo to Seattle. Paniagua was 4-3 with a 4.36 ERA and three saves in 60 games last year.
Santos was 2-2 with seven saves and a 3.30 ERA in 33 games for the Tigers last season. Merrill split last season between the Class A and Class AA levels and hit a combined .309 with 12 homers and 71 RBI.
Europe-Britain tourney set
DUBLIN, Ireland , March 25 (UPI) -- Lee Westwood and Alex Cejka have been handed wildcard entries for the second Seve Trophy golf tournanment between Great Britain and Ireland and continental Europe, officials announced Monday.
Britain and Ireland captain Colin Montgomerie opted for England's Westwood as his wildcard for next month's event at Druids Glen in County Wicklow. Meanwhile, Europe captain Seve Ballesteros, after whom the tournament is named, chose German player Cejka after Bernhard Langer and Sergio Garcia both declined the offer to play, despite qualifying.
The tournament opens April 19.
