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  February 26, 2018 9:54 PM PST

  Billy Joe Saunders was embarrassed by the first defence of his WBO world middleweight title on Saturday. Chuck Howley Stitched Jersey .The Briton seemed fortunate to earn a unanimous points decision -- 116-113, 116-112 and 115-113 -- over Russian Artur Akavov at the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley, Scotland.Saunders, 27, admitted he had underperformed and claimed pre-fight that he wants bouts against Gennady Golovkin and Saul Canelo Alvarez in 2017.Id like to apologise to the fans especially those who have paid for it, it was a terrible performance, Saunders said. Im honest man. That was terrible. A wins a win.Ive been out a year, a bit overweight. A few adjustments to camp. Just flat, really, really flat. Ive called Golovkin out, but on that performance I want to be embarrassed.Saunders won the WBO belt on points from Irishman Andy Lee almost a year ago. He then turned down an offer to fight Golovkin, a rematch with Chris Eubank failed to happen, a hand injury ruled out a fight against Ukraines Max Bursak before two more postponements of Saunders first defence.Perhaps ring rust was a factor as New York-based Akavov was certainly busier and seemed to be ahead at the halfway point. Saunders wants to make amends with a quick ring return in 2017 to try and put himself back in contention for money-spinning fights against the likes of Triple G and Canelo.I have got to go back, adjust, and New Year I want a big fight to put that right because thats not acceptable, Saunders added.Saunders did not explain why experienced trainer Jimmy Tibbs was not in his corner.Im not making a comment about Jimmy, but after this fight I have got to go back down and sit and have a chat man-to-man, Saunders said.You could put who you want in that corner tonight and they couldnt have helped. I stopped sparring for this fight four, five weeks out for certain reasons. James Hanna Stitched Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Ezekiel Elliott Stitched Jersey . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. http://www.officialcowboysnflauthenticshop.com/randy-gregory-stitched-jersey/ .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. The NFL has threatened discipline, including suspension, for players refusing to cooperate with the leagues investigation into steroid claims made by an Al-Jazeera America report.Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and former Packers linebacker Mike Neal have until Aug. 25 to comply with the leagues requests for interviews, according to an NFL letter sent to the NFL Players Association and obtained by ESPN.Vice president of labor policy and league affairs Adolpho Birch wrote the league has a good faith basis for investigating potential violations of the NFLs drug policy, yet the league has made at least seven unsuccessful attempts to interview these players.For those players whose interviews do not take place on or before [Aug. 25], or who fail meaningfully to participate in or otherwise obstruct the interview, their actions will constitute conduct detrimental and they will be suspended, separate and apart from any possible future determination that they violated the steroid policy, Birch wrote. The suspension for each such player will begin on Friday, August 26 and will continue until he has fully participated in an interview with league investigators, after which the Commissioner will determine whether and when the suspension should be lifted.A spokesman for the NFLPA said it doesnt have a comment at this time.?The NFLPA has previously contended theres no evidence to merit an investigation. Charlie Sly, the Indiana pharmacist who made the accusations to Al-Jazeera, has recanted his statements about the players, including Peyton Manning, who was central to the report and will not be punished by the lleague after cooperating with investigators. Chris Jones Stitched Jersey. The players have an obligation to submit to an interview but also the duty to provide meaningful responses to the questions posed, Birch wrote.The NFLPA issued statements to the league on behalf of the players, of which the NFL considers wholly devoid of any detail. In his statement, Harrison denies the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and he recently told USA Today that the allegations made by Al-Jazeera were flimsy.Harrison has declined comment on the matter at training camp.Matthews called the claims bogus at the start of training camp.Its kind of annoying that I have to continue to deal with this, Matthews said. But the truth will come out, and everything I said when the allegations came out I still stand by.Peppers called the allegations nonsense.The league first focused on interviewing Neal because hes a free agent, but the NFLs letter cites an assertion in Neals NFLPA-approved statement as demonstrably false.Rather than eliminate the need for interviews, the players plainly deficient statements simply underscore the importance of obtaining their full cooperation, Birch wrote.Players can contact the NFL office to schedule an interview, the letter states.NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs George Atallah told ESPN this summer that the players need more evidence from the league before addressing the reports further.They have proved to have a terrible track record when it comes to investigations, Atallah said of the NFL.ESPNs Rob Demovsky contributed to this report. ' ' '