match.Kerber finally earned a break point -- her only o

Cruiserweight world titleholder Oleksandr Usyk will make his first defense -- and his United States debut -- against Thabiso The Rock Mchunu on Dec. 17 at The Forum in Inglewood, California, K2 Promotions announced on Wednesday.Usyk-Mchunu will be televised on HBOs World Championship Boxing (10 p.m. ET/PT) and open a tripleheader that will be headlined by the previously announced farewell fight for 51-year-old legend Bernard Hopkins (55-7-2, 32 KOs), the former middleweight and light heavyweight world champion, who will end his 28-year career against Joe Smith (22-1, 18 KOs) in a 12-round light heavyweight contest.This is a great opportunity, Usyk said. Im very excited to fight for the first time in the United States and on HBO. After winning the world title in September, fighting in America was the next goal and I promise the fans in Los Angeles and those watching on HBO a great performance.Ukraines Usyk (10-0, 9 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw with a big personality, won the Olympic heavyweight gold medal in 2012 and has moved quickly as a professional.On Sept. 17, Usyk traveled to Poland and won a unanimous decision against hometown fighter Krzysztof Glowacki to take his world title. By winning the 200-pound belt in only his 10th professional fight, Usyk broke the division record for fewest fights needed to win a world title, surpassing the mark held by Evander Holyfield, who won a cruiserweight world title in his 12th fight by outpointing Hall of Famer Dwight Muhammad Qawi in an epic 15-rounder in 1986.(Usyk) wants to be known as a true world champion, the same status the gold medal provided him as an amateur, said Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions Ukraine. Were very thankful to HBO for this opportunity and see this as just the first step towards Oleksandr becoming a superstar in the United States.Usyk was initially supposed to face Bosnias 32-year-old Damir Beljo (22-0, 18 KOs) but Beljo ultimately declined to the fight because he did not believe he had enough time to properly prepare for the bout.Beljos decision opened the door for Mchunu (17-2, 11 KOs), a 28-year-old southpaw from South Africa, who made a name for himself in the United States in August 2013 when he upset Eddie Chambers by unanimous decision on a nationally televised card.Against good opposition, I The Rock always rise to the occasion, Mchunu said. Im eagerly focused on the throne.K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler said it took only two days to make the fight with Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, Mchunus promoter, once Beljo dropped out.We give Mchunu and Kathy a lot of credit because they accepted the fight and it basically took two days to get it done, Loeffler said. It goes back to what I say about (Gennady Golovkins) fights: When two guys want to fight its easy to make a fight. We made the fight with Mchunu in two days. Hes not somebody you would pick for your first title defense. Hes a very skilled southpaw but Usyk doesnt care who he fights. Usyk is a throwback fighter. He doesnt care who he fights or where he fights. He just wants the opportunity to fight.Said Duva: Thabiso jumped at this opportunity the moment the offer was conveyed without hesitation. He is coming to win and it will be a great fight. I would also give all the credit in the world to Usyk for taking on such a tough challenge in his first defense of the title.Loeffler helped spearhead unified middleweight titleholder Golovkins arrival in the United States and an alliance with HBO as well as doing the same for pound-for-pound king Roman Chocolatito Gonzalez. He said he believes Usyk is capable of following in their footsteps.Weve seen what happened when GGG got the exposure on HBO and the same thing with Chocolatito, Loeffler said. When Gennady was unknown in the U.S. but an undefeated middleweight champion from Kazakhstan and when Roman was an undefeated champion from Nicaragua and came to the U.S., as soon as they had the exposure on HBO their careers went to another level. We expect the same for Usyk. We give (HBO Sports executive vice president) Peter Nelson a lot of credit. The cruiserweight division in the U.S. hasnt gotten the spotlight like it does in Europe but Peter is putting Usyk on like he did when he put on GGG and Roman. He saw their potential and sees Usyks. With the right exposure, Usyks career in the U.S. and internationally will take off.In the co-feature, rising featherweight contender Joseph JoJo Diaz Jr. (22-0, 13 KOs), a 2012 U.S. Olympian from South El Monte, California, will defend his regional belt against Horacio Violento Garcia (30-1-1, 22 KOs), 26, of Mexico, in a scheduled 10-round fight. College Basketball Jerseys 2018 . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Jerseys From China . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. http://www.cheapauthenticnflchinajerseys.com/ . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. College Basketball Jerseys 2018 . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. LONDON -- Angelique Kerber scrapped and scrambled and pushed Serena Williams to the limit.The German hustled from corner to corner for great gets, crouched low for squat shots, and mixed off-speed slices with searing flat winners.In the end, Kerbers stellar counter-punching defense was not enough to defuse the power game and booming serves of Williams, who prevailed 7-5, 6-3 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.Kerber beat Williams in three sets in the Australian Open final in January for her first Grand Slam title. But, this time, there was no stopping Williams from equaling Steffi Grafs Open-era record of 22 major championships.I think I played what I could today, the fourth-seeded Kerber said. Serena was serving unbelievable today. At the end I was trying everything, but she deserved it today. I was not the one who lost the match. I think she won the match.The left-handed Kerber had not dropped a set on the way to her second Grand Slam final of the year and beat Serenas sister, five-time champion Venus, in the semifinals. The 28-year-old Kerber was bidding to become the first player to beat the sisters back-to-back in the semifinals and final at a Grand Slam.But Serena had too much firepower: She served 13 aces, to none for Kerber. The German had only nine unforced errors, to go with 12 winners. But Williams piled up 39 winners, along with 21 unforced errors.Today just her serve was much better, Kerber said. On grass the serve is also a little bit strange because its tougher to return it. That was the only thing which changed from Australia.Kerber came out fighting from the start, trading hard groundstrokes with Williams, mixing up her play and holding serve. But a brief lapse in the 12th game proved costly. Serving at 6-5 down, 15-all, Kerber made a forehand error followed by a backhand error to suddenly ggive Williams two break and set points.dddddddddddd.Kerber saved the first with an easy forehand, but Williams converted on the next with a cross-court backhand winner to take the first set.I think I was still playing not bad, Kerber said. I think Serena was returning better there. She was just going for it. I played two points a little bit too short, and she was there, and she goes for it. She did everything right.Kerber didnt fold. She picked up her game in the second set, pumping her arms to celebrate winners as the Centre Court crowd tried to will her back into the match.Kerber finally earned a break point -- her only one of the match -- at 3-3. At 30-40, Williams turned to her biggest weapon: She hit a 117 mph ace to save the break point, followed with a 124 mph ace and held for 4-3.This is how Serena is playing, Kerber said. I had one breakpoint, and I couldnt do (anything).In the next game, Kerber went up 40-15 but Williams began attacking and forced a break point. Kerber hit perhaps her worst shot of the match -- a backhand long -- to concede the break. Williams served out the match at love.Of course, Im disappointed, Kerber said. But at the end Im also proud about that what I did. That makes it a little easier for me.Kerber will move up to No. 2 in the rankings next week behind Williams, who has been No. 1 since February 2013.I think its tough to follow in her footsteps, Kerber said. Im going my own way. I think Im on a good way to play better and better. I hope that I will reach a few more finals and maybe win a few more Grand Slams.---Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/stevewilsonap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wilson ' ' '