Around sports: Pro boxers may get chance to fight in 2016...

Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in the Olympics? Manny Pacquiao going for the gold?

The head of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) said Wednesday that a new proposal could clear the way for professional boxers to compete in the upcoming 2016 Summer Games.

"We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games," AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu told the Press Association.

The AIBA will consider the move at a meeting this week. Wu believes the rules could be modified in time for national boxing federations to select teams for Rio de Janeiro this summer.

TENNIS

Djokovic records700th career win

Novak Djokovic earned his 700th career match win at the expense of Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri 6-1, 6-2 at the Dubai Championships.

Djokovic, who joined the tour a decade ago, has a 700-146 career record.

He's one of three active players to reach 700 wins, the others being Roger Federer with 1,067 and Rafael Nadal with 775.

"Sounds like I played many matches in my career," a smiling Djokovic told the crowd.

In other news:

Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska came through a tough first set before beating Monica Niculescu 7-5, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.

HORSE RACING

Espinoza namedWoolf recipient

Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza has been chosen as winner of the annual George Woolf Award, which honors riders whose careers and personal character earn esteem for them and thoroughbred racing.

Espinoza was picked by a vote of jockeys. The 43-year-old rider will receive the award on March 13 at Santa Anita.

Espinoza rode American Pharoah to the sport's first Triple Crown victory in 37 years. Espinoza donated 10 percent of his winnings to support pediatric cancer research at City of Hope in nearby Duarte, Calif.

PRO FOOTBALL

Eagles releaseex-Texan Ryans

The Philadelphia Eagles have released two-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans

The move saves Philadelphia $3.5 million in salary-cap space. Ryans played four seasons with the Eagles after being acquired in a trade from the Texans.

In other NFL news:

New Orleans Saints all-time leading receiver Marques Colston has been informed he'll be released by the only NFL club for which he has played in his 10-year career, according to ESPN.

HOCKEY

Belfour convertsgold into cash

Ed Belfour's decision to trade his Olympic gold medal to go into the Texas distilling business with his son has paid off.

The medal the Hockey Hall of Fame goalie won representing Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games was auctioned off for $41,200 according Classic Auctions, which handled the sale. Overall, the 66 items of hockey memorabilia Belfour put up for sale sold for just over $215,000.

In NHL news:

The league has suspended St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves for three games without pay for a blindside hit into the boards that injured San Jose's Matt Tennyson

MISCELLANEOUS

Dynamo fallto Revolution

After Erick Torres scored the tying goal in the 67th minute for the Dynamo, Steve Neumann hit the winner two minutes later for a 2-1 New England Revolution preseason victory in Tucson, Ariz. …

Dayne Wunderlich homered to lead Rice's 11-hit attack in an 8-4 win over visiting Texas State.

From web and wire reports