LAS VEGAS - MANNY Pacquiao punished Oscar de la Hoya for eight rounds Saturday, his technical knockout triumph over the US superstar underscoring the Filipino icon's status as best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Pacquiao's speed and precision were too much for De la Hoya, whose left eye was swelling shut in his battered face as he declined to come out for the ninth round.

TOKYO - JAPANESE newspapers levelled harsh criticism at cash-strapped Honda Motor over the weekend after its abrupt withdrawal from Formula One.

Honda announced the shock pullout on Friday citing the financial crisis, ending an involvement in the sport which dates back to the 1960s.

REIGNING world champion Luke Kibet lived up to his top billing at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon today, winning the men's event in record-breaking time.

The 25-year-old Kenyan came in at 2hr 13min 1sec, a full two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, compatriot Johnstone Chepkwony (2:15:12). Two-time winner Amos Matui finished in third with a time of 2:15:15.