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After 112 years of amateur competition, the Olympics are welcoming professional boxers.All three of them.The International Boxing Associations high-profile plan to entice prominent pros to Rio de Janeiro didnt work, leaving the sport without the star-studded tournament many apparently wanted.Only a trio of traditional pros will compete for gold medals, and only hardcore boxing fans have ever heard of them: Cameroons Hassan NDam, Thailands Amnat Ruenroeng and Italys Carmine Tommasone.The Rio tournament will be more notable for what the men arent wearing. AIBA has removed headguards from male Olympic fighters for the first time since 1980.The biggest stars again could be the women, who are back for their second Olympics after providing the best moments in London.Here are some more things to know when the 286-person tournament begins Aug. 6:REIGNING CHAMPSAll three gold medal winners from the inaugural womens tournament in London are back to attempt to defend their titles. Britains Nicola Adams, Irelands Katie Taylor and American middleweight Claressa Shields all stuck with their sport, which has grown rapidly in prominence and quality over the past several years. In fact, only the dominant Shields is a strong favorite to repeat, given the improved competition at flyweight and lightweight.CAN YOU SEE MEAIBA announced its plan to remove Olympic headgear from the men three years ago, citing research claiming the bulky pads actually cause more concussions than they prevent. The quality of their science is considered dubious by many, but many fighters prefer to compete without the gear, and the sport is undeniably more telegenic when fans can see the fighters faces.UNKINDEST CUTThe biggest problem with the headgear removal is likely to be cuts, which will develop more frequently without the facial protection. Qualifying tournaments have been filled with fighters unable to continue to their next bout after getting cut, and Olympic stars seem likely to meet the same fate.BIG NAMESAIBA has tried for years to become a player in international professional boxing under President Wu Ching-Kuo, but it has succeeded only in nations without an established pro boxing culture. The Olympic-style sports growth in former Soviet republics will be obvious in Rio, where Kazakhstan (12 fighters), Azerbaijan (11), Uzbekistan (11) and Russia (11) will be well-represented along with the likes of Britain (12) and China (11). Cuba (10) has a fighter in every mens weight class, but still wont allow women to compete.EVEN THE SCOREAnother big change for Rio is the scoring system, which is no longer based on punch-counting. Fighters will be judged on the 10-point must system traditionally used in pro boxing, with the decision of each judge reduced to a single number. The final scores in the fights will be announced as 3-0 or 2-1. Unlike the headgear change, the move away from reviled punch-scoring has been greeted with broad approval. Still, it probably wont stop more than half of the losing fighters from claiming they were robbed, just as they do in every Olympic-style boxing tournament.YOUNG AMERICANSThe U.S. team is the historic leader in total Olympic boxing medals and golds, but the Americans are sending just eight fighters to Rio after four men and one woman failed to secure spots through qualifying tournaments. The team might be small, but Shields and lightweight Mikaela Mayer are both medal contenders. The U.S. men didnt win a single medal in London, but touted bantamweight Shakur Stevenson has a great shot to end that drought in Rio.THE GREATESTYoure not seeing things on the schedule: Thats Muhammad Ali competing in Rio. The 20-year-old British flyweight with the conspicuous name is among the medal favorites after training in the same gym as Athens silver medalist Amir Khan.HES BACKRussian ex-world champion Albert Selimov is best known for losing his first fight in Beijing to Ukraines Vasyl Lomachenko, the two-time gold medalist whose amateur legend truly began with that masterful performance. While Lomachenko reigns as a professional world champion eight years later, the 30-year-old Selimov is back at his second Olympics, fighting for Azerbaijan as a naturalized citizen. He is a medal favorite at lightweight.WATCH OUTCuba, another traditional world power, could return to prominence in Rio after winning just two gold medals in London -- a down Olympic cycle by its standards. Among its several strong medal contenders are London flyweight gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez, now fighting at bantamweight; three-time amateur light heavyweight world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz; and lightweight Lazaro Alvarez, a three-time world champion in two classes.Jesus Aguilar Rays Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Anthony Banda Jersey . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/816i-johnny-davis-jersey-rays.html . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. 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While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies.MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins need Jose Fernandez to be the home dominator he has been for virtually his entire career.If he isnt that on Wednesday, its likely the red-hot Kansas City Royals will walk away with their 10th straight win.In fact, even if Fernandez -- who is 26-2 with a 1.62 ERA in his career at Marlins Park -- is as dominant as he usually is here, its still not a guarantee the Marlins will beat the Royals.Thats how hot the Royals are, as they proved on Tuesday, requiring just one run to knock off the Marlins.The Royals also have to take solace in the fact that the Fernandez that arrives to the ballpark on Wednesday is not the one Marlins fans are accustomed to seeing.Fernandez has struggled as of late, mostly on the road. Since July 28, Fernandez has a 6.00 ERA -- home and road -- and he has lost his past three decisions.The Marlins have other concerns besides Fernandez.Three of their best hitters -- right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, first baseman Justin Bour and infielder Derek Dietrich -- are on the disabled list.Stanton and Bour have combined for 40 homers this year, even though the latter hasnt played since July 3 due to an ankle injury that has never healed properly.It is questionable that either one will return this year, although the Marlins are hopeful.Dietrich is also vital to Miamis plans. If the Marlins make the playoffs, starting second baseman Dee Gordon, who sat out 80 games this year due to an MLB suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, will be ineligible for postseason play.ddddddddddddThat means Dietrich would be the obvious choice for second base, assuming he is healthy and the Marlins make the playoffs.On top of those issues, the Marlins got more bad news on Tuesday night.Center fielder Marcell Ozuna, a first-time All-Star this year who is hitting .277 with 21 doubles, five triples, 22 homers and 64 RBI, left the game in the seventh inning due to a family emergency.He just had a little family emergency, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. Its a personal thing. If he wants to talk about it tomorrow, I will let him. Its something that was going on. Well know more tomorrow.Meanwhile, the Royals are rolling along.They will start right-hander Dillon Gee (5-6, 4.52 ERA) on Wednesday against Miami. He is coming off his best start of the year, allowing just one run in seven innings.Kansas Citys bullpen, a key part of their 2015 run to a World Series title, is also in great shape.Kelvin Herrera has saved eight straight games, lowering his ERA to 1.91 with his latest stop on Tuesday.Herrera, filling in for injured closer Wade Davis, has retired 17 consecutive batters.Kansas City also got scoreless innings on Tuesday from set-up relievers Matt Strahm and Joakim Soria.We have to make sure we mix and match, Royals manager Ned Yost said of his bullpen. But we have nice options. ' ' '