Briefs | Weigh-in draws raucous crowd in Las Vegas

Boxing

Mayweather, Hatton risk perfect records tonight: If Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s welterweight-title bout with Ricky Hatton tonight in Las Vegas is as good as Friday's weigh-in, fans are in for an entertaining show.

Hatton (43-0), a longtime junior welterweight from Manchester, England, weighed in at 145 pounds. Mayweather (38-0), a Las Vegas resident, hit the limit of 147 pounds.

From the floor to the rafters, one end of the MGM Grand Garden Arena had 5,930 singing, whistling, clapping fans. About 5,929 seemed to be supporting Hatton. There also was a brass band, sponsored by a British newspaper.

"There's only onnnnnnne Ricky Hatton!" fans sang relentlessly — and when Hatton finally took the stage, they roared approval.

Alcine keeps title: Joachim Alcine stopped Alfonso Mosquera at 2:17 of the 12th round in Montreal to retain the WBA light-middleweight title.

Alcine improved to 30-0.

NHL

Canucks deny claims in Moore's lawsuit: Vancouver Canucks officials have denied that ex-coach Marc Crawford called for retaliation against Steve Moore during a 2004 game against the Colorado Avalanche.

The Canucks released a statement refuting claims in court documents in the multimillion-dollar lawsuit Moore filed against former Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi, the Canucks and Orca Bay Hockey in 2006. Bertuzzi attacked Moore from behind. Moore suffered a broken neck and a concussion and hasn't played since.

Bertuzzi, who is playing for Anaheim, pleaded guilty to assault; he also served a 17-month league suspension.

Legwand gets extension: Nashville forward David Legwand, 27, has signed a six-year, $27 million contract extension through the 2014-15 season.

Devils win ninth in a row: New Jersey beat visiting Washington 3-2, the ninth consecutive victory for the Devils.

Cycling

Vinokourov reportedly retiring: Alexandre Vinokourov, 34, is reportedly retiring after being handed a one-year ban for doping. He tested positive for a banned blood transfusion during the Tour de France — when he was with the Astana team, which later fired him — and was given the ban Thursday by Kazakhstan's cycling federation.

Auto racing

Coca-Cola extends partnership with NASCAR: The Coca-Cola Co. has extended for another 10 years a partnership that allows it to use NASCAR's name and logo in its advertising.

Soccer

USC knocks off top-ranked UCLA: USC (19-3-2) and Florida State (18-5-3) advanced to play Sunday in the NCAA Women's College Cup final in College Station, Texas.

Amy Rodriguez scored two goals as USC beat top-ranked UCLA 2-1, snapping the Bruins' winning streak at 17.

Amanda DaCosta got the winning goal in the 72nd minute as Florida State edged Notre Dame 3-2 in the other semifinal match.

Sailing

Alinghi's Bertarelli tries to break deadlock: Ernesto Bertarelli, syndicate president of America's Cup champion Alinghi, proposed changes to end a stalemate that has halted preparations for the next race, scheduled for 2009 in Valencia, Spain.

A New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled that Alinghi must negotiate the format and rules of the next America's Cup with BMW Oracle Racing, backed by Golden Gate Yacht Club in California.

Skiing

Women's downhill postponed: A scheduled World Cup women's downhill in Aspen, Colo., was postponed until today because of heavy snow.

Horse racing

Fallon cleared: Kieren Fallon, a six-time British champion jockey, was among those cleared of race-fixing charges after a judge in London threw out the case for lack of evidence.

Seattle Times news services