Fans were upset after a controversial decision by a judge gave Cuban Sheila Espinosa the victory over Brazil's Erika Miranda in the under 52-kilo (114-pound) women's class final.

The fans began booing and throwing plastic cups and other objects at the judge and the Cuban fighter. At the same time, an altercation began after fans were upset with the celebration of members of the Cuban delegation, which included former athletes such as volleyballer Regla Torres.

No punches were thrown, but security guards had to intervene and remove the Cubans from the site for their safety.

Brazilian former Olympic champion Aurelio Miguel, a commentator for a Brazilian TV station, also got involved in the brawl. Brazil's Sports Minister, Orlando Silva, had to be hastily removed from the site, too.

The competitions were delayed for about an hour because of the scuffle, and the crowd booed the medals ceremony.

At the end, fighters and delegation members from both nations got together and shook hands.

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AND A PONY SHALL RULE: Don't tell Theodore O'Connor not to play with the big boys. Not only can he hold his own, but the pony can beat the thoroughbreds.

Ridden by Karen O'Connor, the pony everyone calls Teddy won the Pan American Games three-day eventing, leading a U.S. sweep. The O'Connors finished in front of Phillip Dutton, aboard Truluck, and Gina Miles, riding McKinlaigh, and the United States won the team portion for four medals Sunday.

Teddy O'Connor, named for tennis great Jimmy Connors, is an 11-year-old with a mixture of thoroughbred and Shetland in his pedigree. He stands 14.1 hands, and to be considered a horse, not a pony, the measurement must be 14.2 hands or more.

"It's a fairy tale," said O'Connor. "He's such a wonderful horse.

And the only pony ever to compete in the Pan Ams.

"A lot of people have put a lot of faith in him, and he has developed into a real top athlete regardless of his size," she said.

Going into the third and final day, the top three riders were separated by less than two points. The O'Connors posted a score of 52.7 and it was enough to hold on.

It also was the third straight team gold for the United States at the Pan Ams. Canada was second and Brazil third.

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TALK ABOUT BUSY: In a matter of one week, some of the Western Hemisphere's top men's volleyball players have gone from Poland to Brazil.

The World League final, won by the Brazilians, ended last Sunday. That gave players a quick turnaround before heading to Rio for the Pan American Games.

Six Americans _ Sean Rooney (Wheaton, Ill.), Jim Polster (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), Brandon Taliaferro (San Clemente, Calif.), Rich Lambourne (Tustin, Calif.), David Lee (Alpine, Calif.), and Kevin Hansen (Newport Beach, Calif.) _ all played in the World League final round before traveling to Rio. And their flight was delayed one day back home, affected by air traffic control problems in Brazil.

They begin play Monday against Venezuela, the 2003 Pan Am gold medalist.

The following day, the Americans will face Argentina before concluding group play on Wednesday against Puerto Rico.

U.S. coach Ron Larsen hopes to blend youth with some more experienced international players.

"I think it was a matter that we wanted to give some young guys chances, but we want to make sure some of the older guys get better. There The U.S. men have won a total of eight medals at the event: four gold, three silver and one bronze.

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PERFECT START: Four matches, four wins for the U.S. table tennis squad at the Pan American Games.

The victories earned all of the competitors spots in the quarterfinals on Monday.

The U.S. women started strongly against Colombia, winning three matches. Jun Gao Chang (Gaithersburg, Md.) won the first individual match, then Tawny Banh (San Gabriel, Calif.) was successful. Chang and Chen Wang (New York) won the doubles.

A bit later, against El Salvador, Wang and Chang won individual matches, then Banh joined Chang to take the doubles match.

"We knew we could beat these teams, but you can For the men, it was a sweep of Guatamala in the morning. Eric Owens of Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., was down two games in the first individual match, but came back to win (6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9). Mark Hazinski (Mishawaka, Ind.) handily won his match and, in doubles, Owens and Han Xiao (Germantown, Md.) clinched the team match.