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Puerto Rican lightweight Orlando Cruz said he is not only fighting for himself but also for the gay community.Cruz, who came out in 2012 as boxings first openly gay fighter, will challenge lightweight world titleholder Terry Flanagan on Saturday (beIN Sports Espanol, 11 p.m. ET, same-day tape) at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.Terry Flanagan is a true world champion and will defend his title with everything he has. However, I am prepared and ready for victory and to be crowned the new world champion. I want to inspire the gay community by becoming a world champion on Saturday, Cruz said this week. Terry is a great champion and a real peoples person. More importantly, he respects my life and my choices.He sees the man boxing him and that is it. Everyone has been very supportive since I came out three years ago. I have the support of my family, friends and fans.Cruz, 35, who was a 2000 Olympian for Puerto Rico, lost his first shot at a world title, getting knocked out by then-featherweight titlist Orlando Salido in the seventh round in October 2013 in Las Vegas. Six months later, Cruz lost a 10-round decision to Gamalier Rodriguez.Since then, Cruz (25-4-1, 13 KOs), a southpaw, has won five fights in a row at junior lightweight. He will be moving up from the 130-pound division to the 135-pound lightweight division to face Flanagan.When I look at my story, it makes me hopeful that more people will be inspired to come out, Cruz said. Right now my focus is fully on the big fight on Saturday and winning the WBO lightweight belt. Ive been feeling the love from the British people since I arrived here on Monday. Everyone has been very welcoming to me and I have nothing but respect for them. I am very happy to be here in Cardiff and fighting for another world title.Flanagan (31-0, 12 KOs), a 27-year-old southpaw from England who will be making his fourth title defense, hopes to take care of Cruz and then move on to a bigger fight -- perhaps a unification against the winner of an expected rematch between champion Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla, Flanagans Manchester, England rival.He said he respects Cruzs lifestyle, but that it makes no difference to him.Look, it was very brave of Orlando to come out, but Im not interested in either his sexuality or his personal life, Flanagan said. Im only interested in him as a boxer; an opponent. Hes a good fighter, but Im going to deal with him. JaVale McGee Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Byron Scott Lakers Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Kurt-Rambis-Lakers-Jersey/ .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Rajon Rondo Lakers Jersey . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. Michael Cooper Jersey .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Never mind that it was South Africas first day-night Test or among Adelaides most social events. Never mind that the Australians were facing their first whitewash at home. Never mind that they hoped to avoid that by making five changes including three debutants, a colour-blind wicketkeeper who last played Test cricket three years ago and a third seamer playing his sixth Test in four years. This was always going to be about Faf du Plessis.Convicted chewer of mints and user of fresh-smelling saliva to shine the ball. Charming stand-in captain who continues to claim innocence. Centurion at this venue four years ago who ground down Australian morale and changed the momentum of the series. November 24, 2012 was the date he made 78 on debut; November 24, 2016 was the date he made a century on the road to redemption. If South Australia was looking for a new public holiday, they may be interested in a du Plessis day.That is not as far-fetched as it seems. At the end of the first day of this Test, Adelaide loved him as much as he loves it.The cheers outweighed the boos when du Plessis ran to the Riverbank Stand in celebration of his second century at this venue. With the setting sun, the soft light creating a halo of the clouds, the scene should have been romantic, but du Plessis assaulted the cool evening air with a volley of punches. Most of them would have been instinctive acts of achievement; some of them were aimed at the armchair executioners, who labelled him a cheat and wrote him off as an opportunist after the Hobart Test and the ball-tampering bluster.Several of them were in attendance when du Plessis walked out to bat, with South Africa stumbling on 44 for 3. He was greeted with a chorus of condemnation that followed him to the crease, where a much bigger job than clowning around with the crowd awaited.Stephen Cook, South Africas most unsure batsman on this tour, had faced 51 balls, most of them uncertainly. He was lucky to be there at all after being reprieved by a no-ball and was fighting his own battle. Someone else needed to fight South Africas. The same someone who has fought it throughout the series. The skipper.Australia were more up for it than they had been since the opening day in Perth, even with different personnel. Jackson Bird found the right length for the first time when he drew an edge from du Plessis but it fell short of the cordon. Mitchell Starc exploited the bounce and got du Plessis to fend one into his ribs but the only damage that was done was to his eardrums when he was booed (again) after retrieving the ball and handing it back to the bowler.When du Plessis did that against Australia before, at home during the 2014 Test encounter, they took such exception that he said they were as territorial as a pack of dogs. This time the opposition didnt say anything but their supporters did. They hounded du Plessis with hostility without realising they were helping him along. His flick and drive came out early and he had scored 20 runs from his first 19 deliveries, unusually quick for a batsman who is known to take his time. He slowed against the spin, especially after Nathan Lyon beat the inside edge with one that ripped back in..ddddddddddddThe early turn would not have worried du Plessis as much as it would have encouraged him, knowing Tabraiz Shamsi was on hand to make use of it later. His declaration with 12 overs remaining in the day was nothing if not sporting but it would not have been possible if he hadnt scored the runs that allowed him to end the innings early.Du Plessis was the only South African who had some measure of the movement - and there was plenty with the pink ball - and the only one who really had something to prove, besides Cook. In hindsight Cooks 40 was worth a lot more than it seemed when he offered a catch to Steven Smith at second slip and succumbed to Starc. Cooks was a demonstration of determination; du Plessis was one of defiance.By the time he got to fifty, hed had his fair share of fortune. Three edges had fallen short and he saw a drive burst through Birds hand as the bowler followed through. He was booed and cheered in equal measure and raised his bat without much fanfare. At 130 for 5, South Africa were still in some trouble and they were down to their last recognised pair. Nineteen runs later, Australia were into the tail but now du Plessis stepped up.He started playing the ball later and trusting his timing more. He cut with confidence and forced Australia to bowl full, eventually to overpitch, then he treated the Adelaide audience to the best drives they saw all day. Both were off Josh Hazlewood, both on the front foot, both through the off side and together they took him a shot away from a second century at this venue. He needed more, though, and lost Kyle Abbott in the process, but paddle-swept and sprinted a brace with Kagiso Rabada to earn vindication. Amid the boos, the appreciative applause filtered through.It was not the same kind that du Plessis got four years ago, when he topped up on the first-innings 78 with a fighting 110 not out to draw the game. Then, Australians were in awe. This time, his effort was far feistier and the locals were entertained and annoyed all at the same time. More so when du Plessis took the attack to them after the milestone, with a plan to try and unsettle Australia by putting them in at the end of the day.That move may turn out to be prematurely arrogant but, as things stand, it spoke of du Plessis chutzpah as a captain. It is a job he may be doing for the last time in Tests, with the return of AB de Villiers imminent. That also meant, as much as du Plessis was playing to make a point, he was also playing for his place.A South Africa middle-order of de Villiers, du Plessis and JP Duminy reads like a dream but there is only really space for two of them. Du Plessis and Duminy know as much from last season when they took turns being dropped. They have both scored runs in de Villiers absence - Duminy 88 against New Zealand, du Plessis 112 not out, Duminy 141 against Australia, du Plessis 118 not out - and they are both making telling contributions as seniors. At some point someone will have to make a choice between them but for the rest of this series, never mind all that. ' ' '