ISLE FILE
ISLE FILE
Noons stripped of martial arts title
Advertiser Staff
K.J. Noons of the Big Island was stripped of his EliteXC world lightweight championship on Friday night.
Jeremy Lappen, head of fight operations for the EliteXC organization, said Noons has been reluctant to defend the championship against California's Nick Diaz.
"We are stripping K.J. of his championship belt for refusing to defend against Diaz,'' Lappen said. "It's a very unfortunate situation but we cannot have belt-holders who refuse to fight the top contenders. We want champions who will fight anyone, any time, any place. That's the mentality all champions should have."
Noons defeated Diaz last November for the lightweight (160 pounds) title. In Noons' most recent bout, he defeated Yves Edwards to defend the championship in June at the Blaisdell Center Arena.
According to Lappen, Noons has twice turned down offers for a rematch against Diaz.
"I don't understand why he would turn down a chance to be a headliner on CBS on Oct. 4," Lappen said. "Personally, I do not think it was a smart career move, but I'm sure he sees it differently. K.J. has two more fights remaining on his contract, so we are still looking forward to having him fight for us again soon, but not as our world champion.''
Noons has stated previously that he was unhappy with EliteXC because he was getting paid less per fight than Diaz, even after he beat Diaz.
Noons was raised in Kailua, Kona, but now trains in San Diego.
SURFING
POWERS, SULLIVAN WIN
Hawai'i surfers Roy Powers and Pancho Sullivan won their respective first round heats in the Quiksilver Pro France men's contest yesterday.
The first round and four heats of the second round were run yesterday in 2- to 4-foot waves at Hossegor, France.
As first-round winners, Powers and Sullivan advanced directly to the third round.
Fellow Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons, Bruce Irons and Fred Patacchia Jr. did not win their first-round heats and will have to compete in the second round, where eliminations begin.
Florida's Kelly Slater lost his first-round heat, but won his second-round heat. He has won five of the previous seven events this year, and could clinch the world title by winning this contest.
CROSS COUNTRY
UCLA RUNS AWAY
UCLA dominated the men's and women's races of the Big Wave Invitational yesterday at the Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course.
Laef Barnes won the men's 5-kilometer race in 15 minutes, 12.16 seconds to lead the Bruins to a perfect score of 15 points. Hawai'i Pacific topped Hawai'i schools with 75 points for third.
Katja Goldring won the women's 4K race in 14:37.50, lifting the Bruins to a low-best 26 points. Brigham Young-Hawai'i was the top Hawai'i school, placing fourth with 117 points. Host University of Hawai'i finished sixth with 167.
GOLF
UH WINDS UP 16TH
The University of Hawai'i women's golf team finished last in the 16-team Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational yesterday at Albuquerque, N.M.
The Rainbow Wahine shot 324 yesterday for a three-round total of 74-over 950. New Mexico won with 287—872.
Corie Hou led UH with 76—227 to tie for 26th at 8-over. New Mexico's Jodi Ewart shot a final-round 1-under 72 to win with 6-under 213.
