KRONK BOXERS Johnathon Banks (left) and Andy Lee will headline the pro-am boxing card on Thursday, Nov. 15, at Compuware Arena.
Undefeated NABO cruiserweight champion Johnathon Banks, former Irish Olympian Andy Lee, and Southwest Detroit’s Octavio Lara will headline a pro-amateur boxing card on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Compuware Arena in Plymouth.

Banks (17-0, 13 KOs), who was born and raised in Ecorse, will defend his cruiserweight title against New York’s Derrick Brown (13-3-3) in the 12-round main event.

Lee (12-0, 9 KOs), a native of Limerick, Ireland, who now lives in Detroit, will face Tennessee’s Brad Austin (8-3) in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Lara, nicknamed “El Peligro,” which means “dangerous” in Spanish, is making a highly-anticipated return to the ring after a layoff.

In addition to the professional bouts, several amateur bouts will be held featuring J’Leon Love, Erik DeLeon, Leandre White and Ghieth Mohammad.

The boxing show is being promoted by Sylvia Steward of Second Round Inc., in association with Emanuel Steward and Dennis Turner. For ticket prices and more information, call (313) 532-6971 or log on to secondround2003@yahoo.com.

Tigers sign Jones, trade Infante

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with righthanded pitcher Todd Jones on a one-year contract for the 2008 season, the team recently announced.

Jones posted 38 saves in 63 appearances with the Tigers in 2007, marking his third consecutive season with 35-or-more saves.

Jones is the Tigers’ all-time saves leader with 217 saves and he is one of just 14 pitchers in major league history to record 200-or-more saves with one team. He also became the 21st pitcher in major league history to record 300 career saves, accomplishing the feat on Sept. 16 at Minnesota.
Jones has posted a 3.93 ERA and 301 saves in 937 career appearances at the major league level.

In another move, the Tigers announced they have acquired outfielder Jacque Jones from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Omar Infante.

Jones saw action in 135 games with the Cubs in 2007, batting .285 with 33 doubles, five home runs and 66 RBI. He hit .332 in 66 games following the All-Star break for the Cubs this past season.

A veteran of nine seasons in the majors with the Minnesota Twins (1999-2005) and Cubs (2006-07), Jones has compiled a .280 batting average in 1,260 games. He has 164 home runs and 623 RBI during his career.

Infante batted .271 in 66 games for the Tigers during the 2007 season, collecting six doubles, two home runs and 17 RBI.

Mahorn joins NBA TV’s ‘Tuesday Night with Ahmad’

Rick Mahorn, former Detroit Pistons star and current assistant coach for the two-time WNBA Champion Detroit Shock, will serve as co-host on NBA TV’s “Tuesday Night with Ahmad,” which is hosted by Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Ahmad Rashad. The show began its second season on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Mahorn, who replaces NBA legend Patrick Ewing, now an assistant coach for Stan Van Gundy’s Orlando Magic, made his debut prior to the network’s national telecast of the Los Angeles Lakers-San Antonio Spurs game.

“Tuesday Night with Ahmad” airs before NBA TV’s regularly scheduled lineup of live Tuesday night games. The show features live guests, including NBA stars and celebrities, as well as in-depth stories and profiles.

An 18-year NBA veteran, Mahorn was a member of the 1989 NBA Champion Pistons. He is currently an assistant coach to Bill Laimbeer and the two-time WNBA Champion Detroit Shock (2003, 2006). Mahorn also serves as a radio analyst for the Pistons on WDFN.√