St. Petersburg junior welterweight Derrick Samuels physically imposed his will on Roberto Valenzuela (48-46-2) during his seventh-round technical knockout victory at the A La Carte Event Pavilion on Friday. ...more

March 28, 2009

Wall Street joined stock markets around the world in a huge sell-off Friday, sending major market indexes to their lowest levels in more than five years on the belief that a punishing economic recession is at hand. A grim outlook from electronics maker Sony helped trigger the selling, and another bleak forecast from the automaker Daimler added momentum to the drop. ...more

October 25, 2008

SEBRING –– The unmistakable sound of leather meeting leather reverberated through the makeshift gym in the Ruiz family garage, as 10-year old Angel Ruiz Jr. pounded the double-end bag with deadly accuracy. Sweat beaded on the brow of the younger Ruiz, as Angel Ruiz Sr. navigated his son through his workout, moving from double-end bag to snapping punches into punch mitts. Jab, jab, uppercut, then step back. The 10-year old hears the instructions and his punches come crisp and on command without hesitation, and those bombs continue for three minutes until the bell rings to signal his rest period. This is Ruiz Jr.'s daily regimen, which includes workouts and road work, like running eight blocks around his Sun 'N Lake neighborhood. ...more

June 23, 2008

Beneath the punches and kicks unleashed with bad intentions and hopes of drawing blood Sunday evening, fighters competing in the "Salute to Our Armed Forces" MMA event inside the St. Pete Times Forum had one goal: honoring America's troops on Veterans Day. ...more

November 12, 2007