BRIEFLY ALI SEEKS REFORM.

Byline: Daily News staff and wire services

Muhammad Ali asked Congress on Thursday to create a U.S. Boxing Commission, saying oversight by the federal government is needed to protect boxers from exploitation and injury.

Ali's testimony before a congressional panel was read by his wife, Lonnie Ali, because he suffers from Parkinson's disease. As she spoke, he sat in a seat next to her, trembling - one of the symptoms of Parkinson's.

``Reform measures are unlikely to succeed,'' Ali said, ``unless a U.S. Boxing Commission is created with authority to oversee a sport that still attracts a disproportionate number of unsavory elements that prey upon the hopes and dreams of young athletes.''

Legislation authored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would create a three-person commission appointed by the president to license boxers, managers, promoters and sanctioning organizations. It would impose uniform health and safety standards, establish a centralized medical registry and provide uniform ranking criteria and contractual guidelines. The bill has passed the Senate but no action on it is expected in the House this year.

In 1996, Congress established minimum health and safety standards for professional boxing, which were expanded by the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000.

But the former heavyweight champion said more work was needed, citing a 2003 Government Accountability Office study which found that inconsistent regulation by state commissions led to permanent and sometimes fatal injuries, economic exploitation of boxers and corruption.

-- Pound-for-Pound Boxing Promotions will stage a six-bout card tonight at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood.

Three four-round fights and three six-round fights are on tap. Damian ``Bolo'' Wills (10-0, 10 KOs) of Hollywood will take on Ronnie Smith (6-13) of Texas in the six-round heavyweight main event.

Tickets are available at the door. For more information, call [phone].

GOLF: Joey Sindelar shot a 5-under 66 and held a two-stroke lead over Pat Perez in the rain-delayed opening round of the Canadian Open in Oakville, Ontario.

With a five-hour delay because of rain, half the field at Glen Abbey did not finish the first round and four players didn't even tee off.

-- Padraig Harrington, Europe's highest-ranked Ryder Cup player at No. 8 and playing days after laser eye surgery, broke his slump with a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead at the German Masters.

-- Ernie Els shot a 71 and was three strokes behind leader Hendrik Buhrmann after the first round of the Korean Open.

-- Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen shot an even-par 70 in the opening round of the Suntory Open in Inzai, Japan, leaving him five strokes behind leaders Scott Laycock and Y.E. Yang.

BASKETBALL: High school star Shaun Livingston, the fourth selection in the June draft, signed a three-year contract with the Clippers worth $8.1 million with a club option for a fourth year.

Livingston, who turns 19 Saturday, originally committed to Duke before declaring for the NBA draft.

-- The Golden State Warriors waived forward Christian Laettner, less than a month after acquiring him in an eight-player trade with Dallas.

-- Free agent center Jake Tsakalidis, who played 40 games for Memphis last season, signed an offer sheet with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

-- Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli signed a contract extension that will keep him with the school through 2012.

-- Jack Rohan, who coached Columbia to its last Ivy League title 36 years ago, died of complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Rohan, who died Aug. 9, was 72, the university announced.