Boxer Arguello found dead

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Alexis Arguello, who fought in one of boxing’s most classic brawls and reigned supreme at 130 pounds, was found dead at his home early Wednesday.

Presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo confirmed Arguello’s death and an autopsy was pending. The La Prensa newspaper reported the Arguello - elected mayor of Managua last year - was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The 57-year-old Arguello retired in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts and was a champion in three weight divisions. He was perhaps best known for two thrilling battles with Aaron Pryor and fights with Ray Mancini, Bobby Chacon and Ruben Olivares.

“I’m kind of in a daze right now,” Pryor told The Associated Press. “Those were great fights we had. This was a great champion.”

TIGERS’ BACIU HAS SURGERY
CLEMSON — Clemson’s 7-foot-2 center, Catalin Baciu, is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

The school said Wednesday that Baciu had the surgery last month. The school said the sophomore backup from Romania should see limited action in workouts the next two to three weeks as he heals.

Baciu played sparingly last year as a freshman, seeing 44 minutes in nine games and averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds during his time. He missed the first five games of last season because he was serving a suspension because of his time spent with a professional team in Romania.

SOURCE: PISTONS TO GET PAIR
DETROIT — A person with the knowledge of the negotiations says the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle to contracts with free agents Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit teams from announcing free agent signings until next week.

Gordon, the third pick in the 2004 draft by the Chicago Bulls, agreed to a 5-year deal for at least $50 million. The 26-year-old Gordon averaged 20.7 points during the regular season before scoring 24.3 points during the playoffs when the Bulls lost to the Celtics in seven games.

BRYANT STAYING WITH LAKERS
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Team spokesman John Black on Wednesday confirmed Bryant’s decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent.

Now the Lakers and Bryant’s agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they somehow cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.

FSU: PENALTY UNFAIR
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State says it’s unfair to take wins off the individual records of football coach Bobby Bowden and other coaches and athletes who had no role in an academic cheating scandal.

In an appeal to the NCAA Wednesday, the university argued that a proposal to strip the school, its coaches and athletes of victories in several sports is too harsh and should be reversed.

If not, the penalty would cost Bowden up to 14 wins. Taking that many victories off his personal record would give Bowden little chance of catching Penn State’s Joe Paterno in their race to be major college football’s winningest coach. Paterno has 383 wins, just one more than Bowden, who is entering his 34th season at Florida State.

CHOWAN JOINS CIAA
RALEIGH, N.C. — A private, predominantly Baptist university in Division II has become a full member of the nation’s oldest historically black conference.

Chowan’s membership in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association officially began Wednesday, a year after the Hawks started playing football as the only non-historically black college in the league.

“The marriage of Chowan University to the CIAA holds historical significance that we all are proud of,” university president Chris White said.

Ten of the 12 athletic programs at Chowan, which has an enrollment of about 900 students, will begin play in 2009-10. The university plans to upgrade its men’s and women’s cross country teams to make it a dozen.