Dominican air force officer convicted for slaying former champ

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- A Dominican air force sergeant was convicted in the slaying of former boxing champion Agapito Sanchez, the Santo Domingo prosecutor's office said Thursday.

Sgt. Diogenes Nova Rosario shot Sanchez twice in the stomach on Nov. 15, 2005, during a fight at a Santo Domingo shop where the boxer had been playing dominoes, prosecutor Angel Tejeda Fabal said in a statement.

The 35-year-old former junior featherweight champ died two days later from the gunshot wounds.

Nova was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay court costs and a $31,000 fine to the boxer's relatives.

Sanchez had a 36-11 record with three draws. He vacated his junior featherweight title in 2002 after being diagnosed with cataracts. He lost a bid to regain the title in 2004 in a bout with Joan Guzman.