Canelo Alvarez Keeps Word, KOs Caleb Plant To Become Boxing’s First Undisputed 168-Pound Champ

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Canelo Alvarez Keeps Word, KOs Caleb Plant To Become Boxing’s First Undisputed 168-Pound Champ

By Lem Satterfield

Canelo Alvarez sought to “break” the “jaw” of a boastful Caleb Plant, predicting an eighth-round knockout in advance of Saturday’s undisputed 168-pound unification bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Alvarez took a little longer than he expected to finish the job and didn’t quite inflict the pounding he promised, but he did batter Plant around the ring before getting his third knockout in as many fights this year with 1:05 left the 11th round before a sold-out, boisterous, pro-Alvarez crowd of 16,586.

Alvarez (57–1–2, 39 KOs) scored two final-round knockdowns, adding “Sweethands’” IBF crown to his WBA/WBC/WBO versions to become the first fully unified super middleweight champion and the first fighter of Mexican descent to accomplish the feat.

Plant (21–1, 12 KOs) was forced to eat his words in the form of tenderizing body shots, rapier-like jabs, and, ultimately, double-fisted power. Alvarez out-landed him in overall punches (117–101), power shots (102–59) and body shots (53–13) while trailing in jabs (42–15).

“It hasn’t been easy to get to this point,” said Alvarez, who reportedly earned a guaranteed $40 million compared to Plant’s $10 million, before pay-per-view proceeds. “But with your support, my family and my team we’ve gotten really far. This is for everybody, especially for Mexico. This is another one for our team. We did it tonight.”

Alvarez secured his fifth stoppage in seven bouts, a victory over an undefeated champion for the seventh time, and one over an unbeaten rival for the eighth, all on the 45th birthday of his trainer, Eddy Reynoso.

“Caleb is a good fighter,” Alvarez said. “I have a lot of respect for Caleb Plant. He was a difficult opponent with a lot of ability, and I do respect him.”

A four-division champion who has unified titles at 154, 160 and 168 pounds, “Canelo” became the sixth fighter to reach the undisputed plateau, joining cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk, middleweights Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor and junior welterweights Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor.

“This means so much for the history of Mexico to become an undisputed champion,” Alvarez said. “There are only six undisputed champions in history. It keeps me happy and very motivated to be one of the six.”

Alvarez already was being compared to fabled Mexican legends including three-division champions Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Marco Antonio Barrera, four-division title winners Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales, two-division champ Ruben Olivares, and long-reigning titleholders Ricardo Lopez, Salvador Sanchez and Carlos Zarate.

Four-division champion Canelo Alvarez (right) used masterful counter punching, a sharp jab and a brutal body attack during his two-knockdown, 11th-round knockout of Caleb Plant, adding Plant’s IBF 168-pound title to his WBA/WBC/WBO versions to become Mexico’s first undisputed super middleweight champion and boxing’s first in the division. (Premier Boxing Champions)

Considered by many to be the all-time greatest fighter in Mexican history, Chavez Sr., who served as ringside commentator for a Spanish network on Saturday, was 89–0–1 before losing his first bout and retired with a record of 107–6–2 (86 KOs).

“I’m not afraid to say that Canelo is on top of all the great Mexican fighters,” said three-time champion Abner Mares, who served as a ringside commentator. “Speaking of numbers, Canelo has surpassed everyone. Right now Canelo is the man. He is the face of boxing. Every Mexican champion deserves his respect, and Canelo has done it in his time.”

During a June event at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, Chavez Sr. told Alvarez, “My time has passed, but yours is NOW!,” adding, “My history and legacy are already written. You are now the greatest Mexican fighter,’” according to boxing journalist Claudia Trejos, who works for DAZN and Telemundo Deportes among other affiliations.

“Tonight was an outstanding display of boxing, incontrovertible control and power,” Trejos said. “Canelo took his time and systematically tore down Caleb’s tools. He created the space and capitalized on the opportunity to hurt Caleb and to finish him off in the 11th round.”

The 5-foot-8 Alvarez’s relentless pressure overcame an early and effective stick-and-move, jab-and-grab strategy employed by the savvy Plant, a 6-foot-1 boxer-puncher who won the first round on the cards of all three judges.

“Caleb was making the fight pretty difficult,” Alvarez said. “But Eddy told me to just stick to the game plan in the last two rounds.”

Four-division champion Canelo Alvarez (right) scored a pair of knockdowns in the 11th and final round of Saturday’s knockout of previously unbeaten Caleb Plant, adding Plant’s IBF 168-pound title to his WBA/WBC/WBO versions to become boxing’s undisputed super middleweight champion. (Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)

Alvarez increased the intensity as slugger and aggressor through the middle rounds, his masterful counter punching, sharp jab and body attack morphing into a brutal inside game of crisp combinations placed with sniper-like accuracy.

“Caleb was doing great, initially not letting Canelo use his skills before Canelo started closing the gap and penetrating Caleb’s impressive defenses,” said Leo Gonzalez of ESPN Deportes. “But Canelo finally found an opening and was able to hurt Caleb and score the first knockdown. After that, Canelo became like a shark when he smelled blood.”

A head-swiveling left hook to the jaw 31 seconds into the 11th wobbled Plant and was the beginning of the end. A teetering Plant ducked into a vicious follow-up right uppercut, which started his descent toward the canvas before a hybrid left hook-uppercut caught his left ear while he was on the way down to his gloves and knees against the ropes.

A valiant Plant rose at referee Russell Mora’s count of four but never recovered, stumbling across the ring into a neutral corner. Plant, a Tennessee native, was asked to raise his gloves.

“Do you wanna fight?” Mora asked.

“Yeah,” Plant said.

Alvarez’s fight-ending sequence consisted of nine unanswered punches, the first a searing left hook to the chin that knocked Plant into the ropes. The final four punches were a right-left-right-left combination that dropped Plant to his back with his left leg resting on a rope. Plant attempted to rise, but Mora stood over him, already having waved an end to the fight.

“In the end, I got him. That’s the way it had to finish. He was already hurt, and I went for the kill,” Alvarez said of Plant, who trailed, 96–94, 97–93 and 98–92 at the time of the stoppage, and was taken to University Medical Center as a precaution. “He wanted to fight me and still continue. I told him there’s no shame. We are both men at the end of the day. We had a great fight tonight.”

Alvarez is 15–0–1 (9 KOs) since falling by majority decision to five-division champion Floyd Mayweather in September 2013. Mayweather ended the then-23-year-old Alvarez’s run at six defenses, dethroning him as WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion.

Four-division champion Canelo Alvarez gets a lift from trainer Eddy Reynoso following Saturday’s 11th-round knockout of Caleb Plant. By adding Plant’s IBF 168-pound title to his WBA/WBC/WBO versions, Alvarez become the first-ever Mexican undisputed super middleweight champion and also the first in the sport, doing so on Reynoso’s 45th birthday. (Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions)

Mexican-American two-time 168-pound champion David Benavidez (24–0, 21 KOs) was an interested observer on Saturday during a break from training in Los Angeles for a Nov. 13 clash with Kyrone Davis (16–2–1, 6 KOs).

“It was a good fight. Caleb Plant showed a lot of skills, taking advantage when Canelo’s defense lacked a little bit, and, of course, I think an all-Mexican fight between myself and Canelo would be a great event,” Benavidez told Zenger on Saturday night.

“I think Caleb Plant would have done a little better had he gone to the body a little bit more. But Canelo did what Canelo does, cutting down the angles. Caleb Plant had initially opened in the ring, applying pressure and scoring a great knockout in a very exciting fight and ending it in a spectacular way.”

Beyond a Benavidez matchup for Alvarez are potential legacy fights against undefeated WBC 160-pound champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs), who was ringside on Saturday, or WBO counterpart Demetrius Andrade (30-0, 18 KOs) if not WBA 175-pound titleholder Dimitry Bivol (18-0, 11 KOs) or IBF/WBC counterpart Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs).

Alvarez said he plans to enjoy his victory while considering his next options for an opponent and a likely return in May 2022 during the Cinco de Mayo Mexican holiday weekend.

The victory came nearly two years to the day since Alvarez rose two weight classes in November 2019 for a sensational 11th-round knockout that dethroned WBO 175-pound titleholder Sergey Kovalev and made him a four-division champion.

“Canelo is a beast, a monster. Canelo’s one of the few fighters who can carry his power all the way into the 12th round,” Mares said. “People still doubt Canelo to this day, and I don’t see why. He proved himself again with another knockout against another champion and one of the best in his weight class in Caleb Plant.”

Edited by Stan Chrapowicki and Kristen Butler



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Under Pressure: New Volcanoes Could Pop Up Anywhere In US Southwest, Study Says

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Under Pressure: New Volcanoes Could Pop Up Anywhere In US Southwest, Study Says

By Martin M Barillas

Dead volcanoes, seen throughout the southwestern United States, are evidence of volcanic fields that could wipe out infrastructure and disrupt air travel if new volcanoes erupt, a new study says. And researchers say that could happen at any time.

Over the past 2.58 million years, known as the Quaternary geologic period, some 1,800 volcanoes pockmarked the region straddling Arizona, parts of California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. If the Pinacate volcanic field in the Mexican state of Sonora is included, the number rises to more than 2,200. Some emerged as recently as 1,000 years ago.

These volcanoes are known as monogenetic, meaning “one life.”

“A monogenetic volcano will erupt once, and that eruption may last several days to several decades, but after that, the volcano is basically dead,” said volcanologist and study co-author Greg Valentine.

He pointed out that more attention is rightly given to Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska because they host huge stratovolcanoes such as Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, which can erupt many times.

New eruptions from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on Sept. 29 spewed lava fountains up to 50 feet high. (U.S. Geological Survey/Zenger)

Monogenetic volcanoes have been studied mostly for what they reveal about the Earth far below the surface, according to Valentine, though the scientific community is growing more interested in the hazards they pose.

“Most people are surprised to know that there are so many young volcanoes in the Southwest,” he said.

The paper published by Valentine and his colleagues in the journal Geoscience notes that although the volcanoes examined no longer pose a threat, they may reveal the potential for new eruptions.

“Monogenetic volcanoes tend to occur in areas that we call volcanic fields, and the American Southwest is just dotted with these,” said Valentine, adding that no one knows when or where future eruptions will occur.

Monogenetic volcanoes overshadow Lunar Lake in Nevada. The uncertainty over where and when new eruptions might appear is caused by a lack of adequate information. Researchers are working to gather more data to address this problem. (Greg Valentine/Zenger)

He cited as an example Flagstaff, Arizona, which lies within a volcanic field where volcanoes have previously erupted. Albuquerque, New Mexico, also has young volcanoes nearby.

“Two of the most recent eruptions in the Southwest occurred near Flagstaff about 1,000 years ago — one just outside of town and the other on the north rim of the Grand Canyon,” co-author and geologist Michael Ort said. Modern agricultural and social practices would need to be altered to cope with new eruptions, similar to adjustments made by Native Americans of the time, he said.

Most volcanoes in the Southwest are far from metropolitan areas, but eruptions could have far-reaching effects, such as ash plumes that disrupt air traffic or electrical grids. Ort highlighted an eruption that occurred a few thousand years ago near Grants, New Mexico, in an area parallel to the modern Interstate 40 and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

“A similar eruption today would take out one of the most important east-west transportation routes in the country. Several volcanic fields lie along these routes, from the Mojave Desert of California to eastern New Mexico, including the one around Flagstaff,” he said.

The monogenetic Dotsero volcano in Colorado erupted about 4,000 years ago. Researchers say that a new volcano could pop up anywhere in the area at any time. (Greg Valentine/Zenger)

The chance of a new eruption within the study area over the next 100 years is about 8 percent, said Valentine. However, this figure does not tell the whole story. The study did not consider volcanoes that are currently underground, or the fact that a single eruption can result in multiple vents spewing magma and causing destruction similar to the recent devastation of Spain’s Canary Islands.

“When you look at the region from the perspective of volcanic hazards, we really have very little information,” Valentine said. “Most of the volcanoes have not been dated, so we don’t know how old they are, except that they likely formed some time within the Quaternary Period. Very few have been studied in detail.”

The study indicated that the frequency of eruptions in the area may resemble that of certain volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest. Both Valentine and Ort believe a new volcano could emerge anywhere in the Southwest at any time.

The researchers said it is difficult to set priorities for assessing potential eruptions due to the dearth of information. “If you’re monitoring volcanic fields in the Southwest, where do you put the instruments? Being able to better answer questions like these is what we’re moving toward,” said Valentine.

Edited by Siân Speakman and Kristen Butler



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Caleb Plant Upstages Canelo Alvarez At Weigh-in Despite Mike Tyson Picking Him To Lose

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Caleb Plant Upstages Canelo Alvarez At Weigh-in Despite Mike Tyson Picking Him To Lose

By Lem Satterfield

A sculpted and confident Caleb Plant struck a “Superman” pose during Friday’s weigh-in, generally upstaging Canelo Alvarez in advance of Saturday’s 168-pound undisputed unification clash at the MGM Grand on Showtime Pay Per View at 9 p.m. ET.

“Caleb is in the best shape of his life, looking extra sharp and better than ever as a boxer” said Plant’s father, Richie, an assistant to head trainer Justin Gamber, in an exclusive text to Zenger. “Without question Caleb’s going to win this fight and become the first 168-pound undisputed middleweight champion of the world.”

A 6-foot-1 IBF champion, Plant (21–0, 12 KOs) was not only more muscular but more vocal and supremely confident against a boisterous crowd partisan to the 5-foot-8 Alvarez (56–1–2, 38 KOs), a WBA/WBC/WBO titleholder who would become Mexico’s first undisputed super middleweight champion in victory.

Undefeated IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant struck what his strength trainer Larry Wade called a “Superman” pose during Friday’s weigh-in for Saturday’s 168-pound undisputed unification clash against WBA/WBC/WBO counterpart Canelo Alvarez. (Amanda Westscott/Showtime)

The winner of Alvarez–Plant will become the sixth fighter to reach the undisputed plateau during the four-belt era, joining cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk, middleweights Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor and junior welterweights Terence Crawford and Josh Taylor.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson stood on Alvarez’s side of the stage. Tyson predicted a victory by the red-haired, four-division champion, telling Showtime interviewer Jim Gray: “He deserves to have the nod,” adding, “[Alvarez] has proven himself to be the best fighter of his generation.”

“It means a lot [to have Tyson here],” said Alvarez, shortly after the former champion’s comment. “He was a great fighter. I wanna be like him one day.”

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (left) told Showtime interviewer Jim Gray (center) during Friday’s weigh-in that he expects WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (right) to beat undefeated IBF counterpart Caleb Plant in Saturday’s 168-pound undisputed unification clash. (Amanda Westscott/Showtime)

But Plant wants to make Alvarez resemble the Tyson of February 1990, who was dethroned by an upset 10th-round knockout by Buster Douglas. A 42–1 underdog, Douglas left “Iron Mike” on all fours, groping for his mouthpiece on the canvas and struggling in vain to put it back in.

“I’ve been the underdog before. It’s a place I like to be. I like people rooting against me. It gives me extra motivation,” said Plant, who is making his fourth defense. “When you’re fighting for undisputed status, you don’t need much more motivation than that. The way I see this fight turning out is [ring announcer] Jimmy Lennon Jr. saying ‘the new undisputed and still undefeated.’”

As his detractors repeatedly chanted, “Mexico,” Plant calmly stepped onto the scale, exposing a ripped abdomen and sculpted upper torso. His weight was announced at 167 pounds compared to 168 for Alvarez. Plant flexed a “double-biceps pose,” nodded in defiance and thrust both arms skyward with his pointer fingers extended to indicate he’s “No. 1.”

“Remember, it’s easy to sit in those seats. It ain’t easy to stand up here,” said Plant, pointing into the audience. “You can cheer for him all you want and boo me all you want. I love being the underdog.”

Plant’s strength and conditioning guru, Larry Wade, is also preparing two-time champion Shawn Porter for a Nov. 20 clash with three-division WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

“Caleb looked like Superman up there, he really did,” Wade told Zenger after the weigh-in. “I’ve been with Caleb for four years, and he’s gotten better every year and with every fight.”

After leaving the scales, the fighters were separated by promoter Tom Brown as they jawed back and forth, gesturing and nodding their heads for emphasis.

His IBF belt strapped over his left shoulder, Plant yet again raised his “No. 1” right finger before pounding that right fist against his chest. Later, Plant directed that finger in Alvarez’s direction as if aiming a pistol.

“This is what I do,” Plant said. “I was born for this. This is my destiny.”

Alvarez literally drew first blood against Plant during an initial press conference scuffle in September, delivering a blow that caused a cut beneath “Sweethands’” right eye. Plant attributed the still-visible scarring above his right cheek bone to an abrasion from the sunglasses he wore.

But Alvarez vowed to inflict more damage during Friday’s trash-talking, having already predicted an eighth-round knockout and third straight stoppage in as many bouts this year.

Four-division champion Canelo Alvarez holds his WBA and WBO belts on his right arm, his WBC on the left shoulder, and could become Mexico’s first-ever undisputed super middleweight title winner in victory over unbeaten IBF counterpart Caleb Plant in Saturday’s 168-pound unification fight in Las Vegas. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

Wearing his WBC belt on his left shoulder and his WBA and WBO on his right, Alvarez will face the seventh undefeated champion of his career.

“I told him, ’for every action, there’s a reaction. You will see tomorrow.’ I have a good spirit inside of me. I don’t need to say anything else,” said Alvarez, in pursuit of a victory over an undefeated rival for the eighth time. “He will feel something different. Believe me. I feel blessed. I feel motivated for all of my fans. My family, my team, I feel motivated more than ever. It’s time.”

Alvarez said he has an answer for “Sweethands,” who earned his crown in January 2019 by scoring two knockdowns to dethrone IBF champion Jose Uzcategui by an upset unanimous decision.

Plant’s first defense was a four-knockdown, third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Mike Lee, who entered their bout in July 2019 at 21–0 (11 KOs). Plant’s third defense was a 10th-round TKO of Germany’s Vincent Feigenbutz in February 2020, and his third January’s unanimous decision over former champion Caleb Truax.

“I’ve faced many good fighters with skills that are similar to Caleb,” said Alvarez. “It’s a style that I’ve seen before and I know what to do with it.”

Plant believes his slick boxing skills will trouble Alvarez, who was 18 years old when he won a razor-thin unanimous decision over Larry Mosley in October 2008.

“There are a lot of things that I possess that are going to give him issues in the fight,” said IBF champion Caleb Plant (pictured), who is confident of overcoming his underdog status against four-division champion and WBA/WBC/WBO 168-pound counterpart Canelo Alvarez in Saturday’s super middleweight unification bout in Las Vegas. (Amanda Westcott/Showtime)

Some observers believe Alvarez lost a much closer-than-acknowledged unanimous decision unification victory over southpaw Austin Trout in April 2013, which added Trout’s WBA crown to his WBC title.

Trout represented Alvarez’s sixth and final defense of his 154-pound titles before losing that September’s seventh defense by majority decision to five-division champion Floyd Mayweather. The then-23-year-old Alvarez was dethroned as WBA/WBC junior middleweight champion, but has gone 14–0–1 (8 KOs) since then.

Alvarez’s next fight after Mayweather was a 10th-round TKO of former champion Alfredo Angulo in April 2014 before winning that July’s disputed split-decision over two-division champion Erislandy Lara, a slick-boxing Cuban southpaw.

After winning his second title in as many divisions via unanimous decision over four-division champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in November 2015, Alvarez was troubled by the speed and movement of Amir Khan in his first defense before connecting for a sixth-round knockout in May 2016.

Plant is bigger and stronger than all of the above, but that’s not all, according to Wade.

“It’s not only about having speed and muscle mass,” said Wade. “Caleb’s going to be able to fight inside, outside, from mid-range, and he’s generally going to give Canelo problems.”

Most recently there was Alvarez’s majority decision unification victory over then-undefeated WBA/WBC titleholder Gennady Golovkin (September 2018) in a rematch of their draw in September 2017.

“Canelo’s had multiple close fights. But I believe the right people are in place to make the right decision on Saturday night,” Plant said. “There are a lot of things that I possess that are going to give him issues in the fight. I just can’t wait for the bell to ring Saturday night. You’ve got your first undisputed champ and his name is Caleb Plant.”

Edited by Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: The White Stuff: How Brave Fish Use Great White Sharks As Giant Scrubbing Brushes

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VIDEO: The White Stuff: How Brave Fish Use Great White Sharks As Giant Scrubbing Brushes

By Peter Barker

Small fish that rub their bodies against great white sharks could be exfoliating their skin and trying to remove parasites, researchers say.

The risky behavior exhibited by the fish could play a significant ecological role, according to a team of researchers led by the University of Miami Shark Research and Conservation Program at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

“While chafing has been well documented between fish and inanimate objects, such as sand or rocky substrate, this shark-chaffing phenomenon appears to be the only scenario in nature where prey actively seek out and rubs up against a predator,” said Lacey Williams, a UM Rosenstiel School graduate student who co-led the study.

Though fish have been observed chafing against sharks, researchers say their study, published in Ecology, The Scientific Naturalist, shows the cross-species behavior is more widespread than previously known.

The researchers used witness reports, underwater photos, videos and drone footage to study 47 examples of fish rubbing against sharks.

The “chafing events” were documented at 13 different locations around the world and varied in length from eight seconds to five minutes. Sometimes it would be just one fish chafing against one shark, but at times shoals of more than 100 fish would be bumping against several sharks.

The researchers recorded 12 fin fish — any fish with fins, such as salmon, tuna or sharks, as opposed to shellfish or other sea creatures — chafing against eight different species of shark, including great whites.

Researchers used aerial drone footage in addition to underwater photos and videos to study 47 examples of fish chafing against sharks. (University of Miami Shark Research and Conservation Program at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science/Zenger)

One case that stood out to the research team was recorded by an aerial drone in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa and showed 25 occurrences of a leervis fish going out of its way to rub against an enormous great white shark.

The researchers also found that silky sharks (a species that does not have rough skin) chafe against whale sharks.

“While we don’t exactly know why it’s happening, we have a few theories. Shark skin is covered in small tooth-like scales called dermal denticles, which provide a rough sandpaper surface for the chafing fish,” said Neil Hammerschlag, UM Rosenstiel School research associate professor and study co-author.

“We suspect that chafing against shark skin might play a vital role in the removal of parasites or other skin irritants, thus improving fish health and fitness.”

The researchers hope that future studies will be able to further develop the theory of why fish seek out and rub against their natural predators.

Edited by Richard Pretorius and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: Auto Know Better: Police Spot Man Driving Car And Bicycle At The Same Time

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VIDEO: Auto Know Better: Police Spot Man Driving Car And Bicycle At The Same Time

By Joseph Golder

Australian cops discovered a traffic jam was caused by an unusual source. A man was driving a car and pushing a bicycle at the same time.

The surprising footage was filmed Nov. 2 by police officers traveling along Kent Street, in the town of Maryborough, Australia.

The Queensland Police put the video online and said: “Just when we think we have seen it all…”

The Maryborough Highway Patrol was conducting routine patrols when their attention was drawn to a “wheely interesting” vehicle.

In a statement, Queensland Police said: “As per the photo below, the driver of the six-wheel drive was attempting a very unique and dangerous transportation method.

“The driver, a 30-year-old Maryborough man is alleged to have been driving the vehicle with his left hand and was holding the bicycle outside the driver’s window, wheeling it along as he drove along Kent Street.”

An Australian man caused traffic to slow Nov. 2 by driving a car and pushing a bike at the same time. He told police the bike would not fit in the trunk of his car and seemed surprised to learn he had done anything wrong.  (Queensland Police/Zenger)

After speaking to police, the driver was issued a traffic-infringement notice. “Officers were glad to speak to this motorist before anything serious happened on our roads,” the statement said.

In the footage, police pull over the man with the bicycle. Then, one of the officers says: “I just pulled over because of this — you can’t do that,” referring to the unusual arrangement.

The man inside appears surprised and says, “Oh, really.” The officer then asks: “Why can’t you stick it in the back of your hatch?”

The man explains the bike would not fit in the trunk of his car. “Well, you can’t drive along like that, you’re holding up that big line of traffic that was behind you,” the police officer told him, pointing to the line of cars.

An Australian man was pulled over for driving with his left hand and holding a bicycle outside the driver’s window with his right, as he wheeled it along. He said he did it because the bike wouldn’t fit in his trunk. (Queensland/Zenger)

Still not convinced he has done anything wrong, the driver says: “I didn’t want to go too fast in case it shot off into a car, mate.”

The police officer is unimpressed with his reasoning and dismisses the comment, saying, “Yeah, mate, silly idea.”

Sergeant Josh Churchward, officer in charge of Maryborough Highway Patrol, said in the statement that pushing a bike alongside a car “could have resulted in potentially devastating consequences,” even over short a distance.

“Driving is something that requires your full attention, and you should take all necessary care at all times,” he said.

“We’re glad nobody was hurt in this instance, but we do want to remind everyone that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Something like this not only puts yourself at risk, but other road users, too.

“Drive safely and expect police anywhere, anytime.”

Edited by Fern Siegel and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: You’ve Bean Busted: Knifeman Downed With Beanbag Gun After Street Stabbing

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VIDEO: You’ve Bean Busted: Knifeman Downed With Beanbag Gun After Street Stabbing

By Lee Bullen

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting after a man allegedly attacked a woman with a knife on Oct. 2.

The police department released body-cam footage of the incident in Hollywood, California, on Nov. 4.

The suspect, identified by police as Grisha Alaverdyan has been charged with attempted murder.

“On Oct. 2, 2021, around 11 a.m., a woman was walking in the area of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Grisha Alaverdyan, approached the woman and stabbed her in the stomach,” police said in a statement released on Oct. 15. “Friends of the woman flagged down a LAPD sergeant who requested additional units.

“With additional units at scene, Alaverdyan was given directions that he did not comply with. While armed with the knife, he moved toward the officers, resulting in an officer-involved shooting and the use of a beanbag shotgun. Alaverdyan was struck by both gunfire and the beanbag round.

“Both the woman who had been stabbed, and Alaverdyan were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment.”

Their conditions were not reported.

Grisha Alaverdyan faces a charge of attempted murder. (Los Angeles Police Department/Zenger)

Alaverdyan’s knife was recovered at the scene, police said, and no officers were injured during the incident.

“LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses and supervised the collection of evidence by the Forensic Science Division,” the Los Angeles Police Department said.

“The complete investigation will be reviewed by the chief of police, the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.

“Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who responded to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation; evidence collected and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer was reasonable.”

The officer involved in the incident has been identified as Police Officer II Thor Abiva, Serial No. 44313, assigned to Hollywood Area Patrol.

The Los Angeles Police Department noted in its statement that the information “is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence.”

The facts could change as the investigation develops, the department said.

Two other officer-involved shootings are under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department: one on Oct. 24 in the Mission Division, and one on Oct. 31 in the LAPD Van Nuys Division.

Edited by Judith Isacoff and Kristen Butler



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VIDEO: Sun-Canny: Powerful Solar Flare Produced Aurora As Far South As Iowa

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VIDEO: Sun-Canny: Powerful Solar Flare Produced Aurora As Far South As Iowa

By Peter Barker

The sun unleashed a powerful solar flare on Oct. 28 that produced an aurora visible in parts of the United States, and a video of the event was shared this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Solar flares are explosive outbursts on the sun that generate intense radiation in the form of X-rays and energetic particles that can sometimes affect Earth. As this radiation often travels at or near the speed of light, it can reach the Earth within about eight minutes.

When electrically charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere, it produces shimmering, colorful light displays called auroras near the planet’s magnetic poles. Near the North Pole these are called aurora borealis, or the northern lights. The auroras produced by the latest flare were visible as far south as Pennsylvania and Iowa in the United States.

“The flare produced aurora (northern lights) that were visible across Canada and as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon,” the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, created to operate and manage the U.S. environmental satellite programs, said in a statement.

Solar flares are linked to eruptions called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which send huge clouds of magnetized plasma into space, plowing through the continuous flow of charged particles that normally stream from the sun. This is known as solar wind and can reach the Earth in up to three days.

The Earth has a magnetic field that deflects most of the harmful radiation. The sun, which is made of electrified gases called plasma, also generates its own magnetic fields, and all solar activity is driven by them.

A solar flare triggered a spectacular light show that was visible much farther south than ordinary northern lights. (NOAA, NASA, CIRA, SUVI, CIRES, CIMSS/Zenger)

“We can see manifestations of the sun’s magnetic field in the form of active regions, which appear at the sun’s surface as cooler, dark areas and in SUVI [Solar Ultraviolet Imager] observations of the sun’s corona as bright concentrations of loops,” the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service said.

It said that active regions mark areas where magnetism is the strongest and that solar flares are powered by the energy stored in the magnetic fields of these active regions.

“Sunspots are used as an indicator of solar activity, and the number and location of sunspots [are] used to track the sun’s overall activity,” the agency said. “Although the sun may look like a constant ball of light every day, it actually goes through a cycle of increasing and decreasing activity that lasts around 11 years.”

A major solar flare was captured on video on Oct. 28, 2021. (NOAA, NASA, CIRA, SUVI, CIRES, CIMSS/Zenger)

Researchers determined that the “sun’s activity is beginning to ramp up and should peak around 2025, increasing the chance for stronger solar storms in the coming years. Afterward, geomagnetic activity will begin to decrease again and a new cycle will begin.”

Increased radiation and geomagnetic storms can potentially affect power grids, radio signals and communications systems on Earth. They can also affect satellite operations and GPS navigation capabilities.

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service satellites monitor the sun and when solar flares or coronal mass ejections occur. Since these events can happen unpredictably and some can reach Earth within minutes, the agency’s Space Weather Prediction Center uses this information to monitor the activity on the sun and make forecasts and predictions and issue alerts.

“As the solar cycle moves toward the solar maximum, [our] satellites will continue to monitor the sun’s activity,” the agency’s statement said.

Edited by Richard Pretorius and Kristen Butler



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Catfishing Man Who Tricked Teens Into Sending Explicit Selfies Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison

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Catfishing Man Who Tricked Teens Into Sending Explicit Selfies Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison

By Joseph Golder

A Florida man who pretended to be a teenager online to entice young girls to send him sexually explicit pictures of themselves has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

The use of fake photos on dating or social media profiles — a tactic known as “catfishing” — is widespread and not exclusively used to trick minors.

Dwight Castaldi, 45, of Palm Beach Gardens, was convicted on federal child pornography charges and was sentenced on Nov. 3, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to be supervised for life upon release.

Beginning in 2008, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, “Castaldi communicated with at least six minor-aged girls, as young as 13, on a social networking websites. Castaldi told the girls he was a teenager and sent the victims pictures of an unknown young man, falsely claiming they were pictures of him.

“During chats, Castaldi told the minors that they were in exclusive relationships with him and convinced the minors to take sexually explicit pictures of themselves and send the images to him. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Castaldi’s Palm Beach County home in 2018. They found several electronic devices containing hundreds of videos and photographs of child exploitation material and evidence of Castaldi communicating with others about the illegal material.”

Castaldi previously pleaded guilty to production, distribution and possession of child pornography, and online enticement of minors, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith, who sits in Fort. Lauderdale, imposed the sentence.

FBI Miami investigated the case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, together with the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department and the Huntington Beach, California Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller prosecuted the case.

“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.”

U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro, FBI Miami, announced the sentence in an online statement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also said: “To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678.



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Apocalypse Wow: Exploding Comet So Hot It Turned A Desert Into Glass, Says Study

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Apocalypse Wow: Exploding Comet So Hot It Turned A Desert Into Glass, Says Study

By Martin M Barillas

A fireball exploded over the Atacama Desert in South America about 12,000 years ago with heat so devastating that it turned the sandy soil in the region into slabs of silicate glass.

Researchers detailed their findings in the journal Geology, explaining that samples of the glass retain bits of minerals usually found in celestial objects such as meteors and comets.

“This is the first time we have clear evidence of glasses on Earth that were created by the thermal radiation and winds from a fireball exploding just above the surface,” said geological sciences professor Peter Schultz of Brown University. Schultz said that given the wide area impacted, “this was a truly massive explosion.”

Analysis of the glass samples revealed a mineralogy that was consistent with a comet origin. (P.H. Schultz/Brown University)

While he and his colleagues are accustomed to seeing exceptionally bright meteors known as bolides in the sky, Schultz said that “those are tiny blips compared to this.”

Fields of black or dark green glass have been found along a corridor approximately 47 miles long in northern Chile east of Pampa del Tamarugal, a region known for extractive mining and agriculture. The glass’s origin has long been debated, even though volcanism and grass fires have been dismissed as causes.

According to the new study, the material closely resembles samples of a comet dubbed Wild 2 that were collected and returned to Earth by NASA’s Stardust mission in 2006.

Launched in 1999, NASA spacecraft ‘Stardust’ collected samples of particles spewed by Wild 2 — a comet hurtling in deep space. It returned samples in 2006 via a capsule sent back to Earth. (Jet Propulsion Lab/NASA)

Brush fires could not have forged the glass, the study concluded, noting that the minerals were shocked, rocked and rolled while still molten. The researchers assert that this proves there was an airburst explosion coupled with tornado-like winds.

A chemical analysis of the glass also lent credence to its extraterrestrial origins. An international team determined that the glass contained zircons, minerals that had decomposed due to heat into crystal-like baddeleyite. This can only happen at temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit — far hotter than a brush fire.

Also, exotic minerals only found in meteorites and other extraterrestrial rocks were in the glass. These include troilite, cubanite and calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions that matched samples brought back by NASA’s Stardust mission.

Study co-author Scott Harris said the ancient intruder “has all the markings of a comet,” and its minerals resembling the Stardust samples are “really powerful evidence that what we’re seeing is the result of a cometary airburst.”

During the glacial Pleistocene Epoch, which lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, South America was home to megafauna that included ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, bears, armadillos and mammals resembling elephants.

South America was once home to megafauna that went extinct around the same time researchers say an exploding comet turned vast patches of sand in Chile’s Atacama Desert into glass. (Chile Natinal Museum of Natural History)

“It’s too soon to say if there was a causal connection or not, but what we can say is that this event did happen around the same time as when we think the megafauna disappeared, which is intriguing,” Schultz said. Many of these species ceased to roam the earth about 10,000 years ago. Early Americans also hunted them and may have contributed to their demise.

“There’s also a chance that this was actually witnessed by early inhabitants, who had just arrived in the region. It would have been quite a show,” Schultz added.

While further analysis will be needed to establish the exact date of the fireball, researchers point to about the time of the megafauna extinction. The size of the fireball is also still in question.

“There may be lots of these blast scars out there, but until now we haven’t had enough evidence to make us believe they were truly related to airburst events,” Schultz said. “I think this site provides a template to help refine our impact models and will help to identify similar sites elsewhere.”

Edited by Richard Pretorius and Kristen Butler



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DeMoralizing: How DeMar DeRozan Has Transformed Chicago’s Offense

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DeMoralizing: How DeMar DeRozan Has Transformed Chicago’s Offense

By Nekias Duncan

It’s easy to gravitate towards a tough shot-maker. How cool is it to see a player defended well, pushed to an uncomfortable spot and knock down a jumper or convert a contested finish anyway?

And for the defender(s) of said shot, how must that feel? To do everything right, only for points to go up on the scoreboard despite your solid efforts?

In other words: It’s gotta be tough drawing DeMar DeRozan as a matchup right now.

DeRozan’s off to a hot start, averaging 27.0 points with a 59.5% True Shooting percentage to boot. Honestly, he’s got it going from everywhere. His shot distribution (along with field-goal percentages by distance) is as follows:

  • 67.7% from 0-to-3 feet
  • 50% from 3-to-10 feet
  • 51.2% from 10-to-16 feet
  • 40% from 16-22ish feet
  • 38.9% from three

He’s shooting 52.2% on twos while attempting 17.3 of those suckers. Roughtly 70% of those two-pointers have been self-created. The three-point dabbling is back, with DeRozan’s 2.3 attempts being the highest we’ve seen from him since his final year in Toronto (3.6 attempts in 2017-18).

DeRozan has been hotter as of late. He’s scored 30 or more points in three straight games, while shooting 65.5% (!!!) from two and 50% from three during that stretch. And when all else fails, DeRozan has been able to bump-and-pump his way to the free-throw line. His 7.3 free throw attempts rank fifth in the NBA, and second among perimeter players (Jimmy Butler leads the NBA in both categories at 9.0).

It’s hard to emphasize how important DeRozan’s rim pressure has been. The Bulls have moved from No. 10 to No. 5 in terms of their share of shots at the rim, per PBP Stats. The real shift, however, comes from the charity stripe.

The Bulls ranked dead last in the percentage of points that came via free throws (12.5) last season, per NBA.com’s tracking data. They’ve completely flipped the script this season, ranking third (17.0) in the league behind DeRozan’s aggression.

The partnership between DeRozan and Chicago’s other two stars — Zach LaVine (balling) and Nikola Vucevic (bawling, at his currently-shaky jumper) — has been mutually beneficial. DeRozan has been able to attack bent defenses due to the attention the other two demand, especially when they work together.

Take the possession below, where the Celtics attempt to “ICE” a LaVine-Vucevic pick-and-roll.

In ICE, the on-ball defender (Josh Richardson) positions himself in a way to force the ball-handler (LaVine) towards the baseline. Robert Williams has to step up because of LaVine’s pull-up shooting ability, which opens up the pocket pass to a rolling Vucevic.

Because of the on-time, on-target pass, Marcus Smart rotates down to cut off the roll. Vucevic quickly finds DeRozan on the wing, which turns into a one-on-one battle with Williams as he rotates out. DeRozan beats Williams off the bounce, forces a rotation, then finds Vucevic for the open jumper.

Even when LaVine and Vucevic aren’t directly involved in actions, their presence has made life easier for DeRozan. DeRozan-run isolations or post-ups with either star spacing one pass away have made it incredibly tough to send extra attention. Including passes, DeRozan is generating 1.11 points per isolation possession, and 1.27 points per post-up, per Synergy.

But because of DeRozan’s individual prowess as a scorer, LaVine and Vucevic aren’t needed to save the day. It’s why head coach Billy Donovan has seemed comfortable working DeRozan in with the second unit.

The split has been nearly perfect in terms of minute distribution. Per PBP Stats, the Bulls have logged 80 minutes with DeRozan on the floor without LaVine and Vucevic, and 79 minutes with the inverse (LaVine/Vucevic on, DeRozan off).

The Bulls have (inexplicably) crushed it in the solo DeRozan (DeSolo?) minutes, posting a 119.4 offensive rating and a plus-23.7 net rating overall despite his cast mostly being non-shooters.

It’s also telling that DeRozan, in less than a month, has already taken over lead-dog duties in the clutch. He’s taken as many clutch shots (9) as LaVine (6) and Vucevic (3) combined. DeRozan’s 33.3 usage rate trumps his co-stars.

But when you can make shots like this, who needs spacing? And why wouldn’t you defer to DeRozan?

Not only has DeRozan been a near-seamless fit on his new squad offensively, he’s not-so-arguably been the Bulls’ best player this season. Before the season, he bristled at people who questioned how he would fit in Chicago. If this stretch is any indication of the campaign he’ll have, his annoyance by the skepticism will be justified.

He’s wylin’ in Windy City right now.

Produced in association with BasketballNews.com.

Edited by Kristen Butler



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