Gymnast Leyva receives 80 stitches around ear before American Cup

NEW YORK (AP) -- Danell Leyva's attempts at playing peacemaker when a fight broke out between two of his dogs last month ended with the reigning US champion receiving 80 stitches around his right ear.

Leyva blames himself for getting bit, saying he startled one of the dogs while trying to break it up.

Doctors told him he would miss a week of training. Instead the 21-year-old was back in the gym two days later to continue preparations for Saturday's American Cup at Madison Square Garden.

Leyva is looking to bounce back from a disappointing fourth-place finish at the Winter Cup in Las Vegas a month ago. He struggled on parallel bars - where he is the reigning world champion - and high bar in qualifying.