Taylor and Pavlik will have rematch

Former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor has invoked a contractual rematch clause with current champion Kelly Pavlik, and the two will fight a non-title bout at 166 pounds in February, promoters said Tuesday.

Pavlik (32-0, 29 knockouts) rallied from an earlier knockdown to knock out Taylor (29-1-1, 17 KOs) in the seventh round of their Sept. 29 meeting in Atlantic City, N.J.

Taylor was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards when Pavlik unleashed a barrage that included devastating uppercuts.

The bout probably will be fought Feb. 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, promoter Bob Arum said.

Former mixed martial arts champions Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva will have their long-awaited showdown Dec. 29 in Las Vegas, Ultimate Fighting Championship officials announced.

Liddell-Silva will be part of UFC 79 at Mandalay Bay Events Center, on a card that will also include the welterweight title fight between champion Matt Serra and former champion Matt Hughes.

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-- Lance Pugmire

TENNIS

Federer holds off

Berrer, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

Roger Federer avoided a rare second straight loss, holding on to beat Michael Berrer, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, in the first round of the Swiss Indoors at Basel, Switzerland.

Federer lost to David Nalbandian on Sunday in the Madrid Masters final.

Second-seeded Andy Murray defeated Max Mirnyi, 6-2, 6-2, and advanced to the second round of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.

Defending champion Mario Ancic defeated Nicolas Lapentti, 6-4, 6-1.

Benjamin Becker had 19 aces in defeating Arnaud Clement, 7-6 (0), 7-6 (3), in the first round of the Lyon Grand Prix in France.

Ai Sugiyama upset eighth-seeded Sybille Bammer, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0, in the first round of the Generali Ladies at Linz, Austria.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Yow begins new

round of chemotherapy

North Carolina State women’s basketball Coach Kay Yow has resumed chemotherapy in her fight against breast cancer.

The 65-year-old Hall of Fame coach had stopped chemotherapy for five months during the off-season in favor of less demanding hormonal treatments.

JURISPRUDENCE

Man pleads guilty

in Duquesne shootings

One of two men accused of shooting at five Duquesne basketball players after a school dance pleaded guilty to attempted homicide and other counts.

Derek Scott Lee, 19, of Pittsburgh, was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to five counts of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, plus one count of conspiracy and a weapons count.

SOCCER

Arsenal rolls to victory

in Champions League

Arsenal and Manchester United moved closer to a place in the next round of the Champions League with big victories that extended the perfect starts for the English clubs.

Arsenal beat visiting Slavia Prague, 7-0, to equal the biggest margin of victory in the competition’s history. English champion United won 4-2 at Dynamo Kiev.

BASEBALL

Angels’ Moseley

has successful surgery

Angels right-hander Dustin Moseley had surgery to alleviate irritation of the ulnar nerve in his right arm. Moseley, who was 4-3 with a 4.40 earned-run average in 2007, is expected to be ready for spring training in 2008.

The Oakland Athletics hired Don Wakamatsu away from Texas to be their bench coach, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract with the Bay Area native.