Italian Boxer De Chiara, 25, Dies From Ring Injuries

Italian boxer Fabrizio De Chiara, 25, was declared dead early Monday, two days after suffering head injuries in a title fight.

Doctors in Pisa, Italy, said the middleweight had been brain dead since Sunday, and that his family had approved organ donation.

De Chiara, the seventh Italian professional boxer to die of ring injuries, lapsed into a deep coma Saturday night shortly after losing during the final round of an Italian title bout against champion Vincenzo Imparato at Avenza.

De Chiara, 13-2 as a professional, collapsed after walking back to his corner following the referee’s decision to stop the fight. The fighter’s condition worsened Sunday after surgeons twice operated to relieve pressure on his brain.

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Evander Holyfield’s upset win of Mike Tyson set a record as boxing’s biggest paid live gate.

The fight at the MGM Grand Garden arena drew 16,103, who paid a record $14,150,700.

The fight surpassed the previous record gate of $13,965,600 for Tyson’s first comeback fight after his release from prison, against Peter McNeeley.

The Tyson-McNeeley bout drew 40 more people, but the Tyson-Holyfield fight was scaled slightly higher.

Baseball

The Dodgers, still searching for a third baseman, decided veteran Dave Hansen no longer fits into the equation and told him Monday that they will try to trade him within 10 days.

The Dodgers designated Hansen for assignment, along with infielder Howard Battle and left-handed pitcher Brandon Watts, to make room for five newcomers to their 40-man roster.

They added pitchers Gary Rath, Matt Herges and Dave Spykstra; second baseman Adam Riggs, and catcher Henry Blanco. They also reinstated pitcher Rick Gorecki and infielder Garey Ingram from the 60-day disabled list.

Hansen, the Dodgers’ second-round draft choice in 1986 who was on the major league roster the last five full seasons, became expendable when the Dodgers signed free agent left-handed hitting infielder Chip Hale. Hansen, 27, batted .221 last season with no homers and six RBIs.

Meanwhile, talks are continuing between the Dodgers and free agent third baseman Todd Zeile, their top choice to fill the third base vacancy.

Zeile, who grew up a Dodger fan and lives in the L.A. area, hit 25 home runs with 99 RBIs in the regular season for the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles last season.