the Marlins have a new closer with plenty of experi

Cruiserweight world titleholder Beibut Shumenov and interim titlist Yunier Dorticos will meet in a mandatory bout as the WBA continues to reduce the number of belts in each weight class from three to one.Caribe Promotions won a purse bid Monday at WBA headquarters in Panama City, Panama, to gain promotional rights to the bout. Caribe, which promotes Dorticos, bid $350,001 to beat the bid of $201,000 offered by Tom Browns TGB Promotions, which represents Shumenov.Caribes winning purse bid comes as a surprise as it must yield 75 percent of the winning bid ($262,500.75) to Shumenov, while Dorticos is entitled to the remaining 25 percent ($87,500.25).Although the date and site of the bout are not yet set, Caribe Promotions proposed dates and sites as part of its offer. They are Feb. 4 in Houston or Las Vegas or Feb. 11 in Miami. The fight must take place within 90 days of the purse bid.Shumenov (17-2, 11 KOs), 33, a Kazakhstan native fighting out of Las Vegas, held the interim belt, which he defended against B.J. Flores in a decision win in July 2015. He was elevated to a full titleholder and knocked Junior Anthony Wright out in the 10th round of his latest bout May 21. Shumenov previously held the belt but lost it to Bernard Hopkins by decision in a 2014 title unification fight.Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs), 30, a Cuban defector living in Miami, claimed the vacant interim title by 10th-round knockout of Youri Kalenga in an action-packed fight of the year contender in May in Paris.Unified titleholder Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22 KOs), of Russia, holds the WBAs super title (as well as the IBF belt) and will defend them against Murat Gassiev (23-0, 17 KOs), also of Russia, on Dec. 3 in Moscow. The winner of the bout will be mandated to face the winner of Shumenov-Dorticos. Swell Bottle Belgie ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Swell Fles . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.swellkopen.be/swell-waterfles.html .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Swell Drinkfles .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Swell Goedkoop . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. A look at whats happening all around the majors Wednesday:---END OF THE LINEPrince Fielder is expected to announce that he will have to quit baseball following his second neck surgery. A person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that Fielder isnt formally retiring, but doctors wont give the six-time All-Star medical clearance to play again. Fielder has 319 home runs in 12 seasons, the same number his father, Cecil, had in 13 seasons.HAPP GOES FOR 16J.A. Happ (15-3, 3.09 ERA) tries to become the first 16-game winner in the majors when Toronto faces Tampa Bay. Happ signed a $36 million, three-year deal as a free agent in the offseason and is 9-0 in his past 10 starts with a 2.49 ERA. Rookie left-hander Blake Snell (3-4, 2.95) has 56 strikeouts in 55 innings for the Rays this season.THE LAST ONEBartolo Colon has beaten every team in the majors during his long career except Arizona. The 43-year-old Mets righty will try again to defeat the Diamondbacks when they visit Citi Field. Colon is 0-1 in two starts against them.AWARD-WINNING MATCHUPAL Cy Young Award winners Felix Hernandez (6-4, 3.55 ERA) and Justin Verlander (12-6, 3.52) square off when the Mariners host the Tigers. Hernandez won his prize in 2010 and has finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting in four of five seasons since. Verlander won in 2011 and was runner-up in 2012 but hasnt been in the top 10 since, though his 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings this season represent his best rate since 2008.ddddddddddddPLAY IT SAFEWith a comfortable lead in the NL East, Washington is being cautious with slugger Bryce Harper. The reigning NL MVP missed his second consecutive game Tuesday night with a stiff neck, and theres no definitive timeframe for his return. We suggested he shut it down because he could be making it worse, manager Dusty Baker said. Just have to wait to see.FRESH FISHChasing an NL wild card, the Marlins have a new closer with plenty of experience. Fernando Rodney moved into the ninth-inning role when Miami placed fellow All-Star A.J. Ramos (broken finger) on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to Aug. 6. Rodney promptly earned his 255th career save in a 2-0 win over the Giants and has 19 in 21 chances this season, primarily with San Diego. Ramos, who has 32 saves in 34 opportunities, is eligible to return on Aug. 21.NEW SURROUNDINGSRed Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz (8-9, 3.09 ERA overall) tries to find his stride in the AL East against the Yankees. Since coming over in a trade with San Diego, Pomeranz is 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA, and he walked six while throwing six innings of two-run ball in a no-decision last time out against Seattle. Nathan Eovaldi (9-8, 4.80) has allowed two homers in each of his past two starts, both losses. ' ' '