Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Penn retains UFC lightweight title
LAS VEGAS » Hilo's BJ Penn stopped Sean Sherk by TKO in the final seconds of the third round to retain his UFC lightweight championship in the main event of "UFC 84: Ill Will" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The fight never made it to the ground, as Penn got the best of Sherk standing in all three rounds.
In the final seconds of the third round, Penn dropped Sherk with a vicious jumping knee that ended the fight as the bell in Round 3 sounded.
Penn improves to 14-4-1, while Sherk falls to 36-3-1. It's Sherk's first loss at 155 pounds.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sean Sherk was knocked down by BJ Penn in the third round of their UFC lightweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas yesterday. Penn won moments later after Sherk could not continue.
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Bruce Irons planning to retire
Kauai's Bruce Irons will leave the ASP World Championship Tour at the end of 2008, regardless how he finishes in the year-end ratings, according to an article in this month's Surfing Magazine.
The 28-year-old from Princeville, Kauai, said he was "going back to being a freesurfer" and will leave touring to his older brother Andy. He said he wanted to return to making surf trips and videos.
Irons, who finished third in his heat at the Globe Pro Fiji, is ranked 20th on the WCT.
Andy Irons posts high score at meet
Kauai's Andy Irons scored a near-perfect 9.17 today in winning his Round 1 heat to advance at the ASP World Tour Globe Pro Fiji.
The three-time world champion had the highest individual wave score at "Restaurants" break and will move on to the third round. Eight-time world champ Kelly Slater of Florida had the highest round score, with 19.73 out of 20, in also advancing.
Also winning their heats from Hawaii were Fred Patacchia and Roy Powers. Finishing third from Hawaii were Bruce Irons and Pancho Sullivan.
Kim, Kono at Thunderbird International
Former Hawaii high school state champion Chan Kim was tied for fourth and Punahou senior Stephanie Kono was tied for 15th after yesterday's first round of their respective divisions of the Thunderbird International Junior golf tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kim, who moved to Arizona after his junior year at Kaimuki, shot a 3-under 69. He was two strokes behind leader Gregor Main in the boys' competition of the American Junior Golf Association event.
Kono carded a 4-over 76 in girls play. She was five strokes behind leader Marika Lendl going into today's second round at the Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor Course.
The field for the 54-hole tournament features 48 boys and 30 girls, ages 12 to 18, representing 17 states and 11 foreign countries.
Judokas to U.S. Olympic trials
Six judokas with Hawaii ties have qualified to compete at the U.S. Olympic trials in Las Vegas June 13 and 14, according to the list finalized by USA Judo yesterday.
Looking to win a spot for the Summer Games in Beijing are: Taylor Takata, Daniel Chow, Christian Aarona, Mindy and Chrissy Chow, and Melinda Swanson.
Takata (Iolani 2000) is top-ranked in the men's 66kg. Also in his weight division is Punahou senior Daniel Chow, a three-time state champ in both wrestling and judo. In the 100kg division is former San Jose State collegiate champion Christian Aarona of Waimanalo.
Mindy Chow, a seventh-grader at Punahou, will be the youngest at the trials at 13. She and sister, Chrissy, a Punahou freshman, will both compete at 52kg.
In the 78kg-plus division is Honolulu's Melinda Swanson.
US Youth Soccer Regional at Waipio
The top 248 boys and girls teams, including 10 teams from host Hawaii Youth Soccer Association, will compete at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park for the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships June 16 through June 22.
Play is in age-group divisions from Under-12 through Under-19. Round-robin competition is June 16, 17 and 18 with quarterfinals beginning June 20. The semifinals are scheduled for June 21 and the finals June 22.
State Cup champions and select runners-up from 14 state associations are in the field, including Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Regional winners advance to the national championships in North Little Rock, Ark., July 22 through 27.