A roundup of the week July 30-Aug. 5

BOXING—PIPINO CUEVAS of Mexico retained his WBA welterweight title, winning a unanimous decision over Randy Shields of North Hollywood in Chicago.

Ernesto Espana of Venezuela retained his WBA lightweight championship in Chicago with a 10th-round technical knockout of Johnny Lira of Chicago.

GOLF—DAVID GRAHAM made a seven-foot putt on the third hole of a playoff to defeat Ben Crenshaw and win the PGA tournament at Birmingham, Mich. (page 42).

Nancy Lopez shot a final round one-over-par 75 for a total of 282, 14 under par, to win the $100,000 LPGA European Open.

HARNESS RACING—NIATROSS ($5), driven by Clint Galbraith, won the $862,750 Woodrow Wilson Pace at the Meadowlands, the richest harness or thoroughbred race ever held, by one length over Whamo. The colt's time, 1:55⅘ was a track record for 2-year-olds.

Abercrombie ($7.40), driven by Glen Garnsey, raced the fastest mile in the history of the sport in winning the $50,000 U.S. Pacing Championship at the Meadowlands. The 3-year-old, who defeated Try Scotch by three-quarters of a length, was clocked in 1:53, [1/5] of a second faster than the record established in 1977 by Warm Breeze.

Happy motoring ($7.20), Bill Popfinger driving, won the $250,000 Monticello Classic Pace by a nose over Happy Sharon. The 3-year-old's time was 1:57[3/5].

HORSE RACING—COASTAL ($2.60), ridden by Ruben Hernandez, won the $100,000 Monmouth Invitational at Monmouth by three lengths over Steady Growth. The 3-year-old was timed in 1:48[3/5] for the mile and an eighth.

Star De Naskra ($4.20), Jeffrey Fell up, won the $108,400 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga by three-quarters of a length over Cox's Ridge. The 4-year-old was clocked in 1:47[3/5] for the mile and an eighth.

MOTOR SPORTS—CALE YARBOROUGH, averaging 114.9 mph. in his Chevrolet on the 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway oval, won the Pocono 500 by one second over Richard Petty, also in a Chevy.

Darrell Waltrip, averaging 161.2 mph in his Oldsmobile, won the $231,000 Talledega (Ala.) 500 by 62 seconds over David Pearson, in an Oldsmobile.

SOCCER—NASL: The Cosmos clinched their second straight National Conference Eastern Division championship, as well as the home-field advantage for all their playoff games, with a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles in Pasadena, but came off the field more apprehensive than joyous. The concern has to do with the physical condition of Giorgio Chinaglia, the league's leading scorer with 55 points, who bruised his left groin with 14:20 to play. His injury overshadowed Ricky Davis' two goals and Vladislav Bogicevic's goal and assist. Tampa Bay was another club with reason to worry. The Rowdies lost two straight, to Washington 5-1 on Bobby Stokes' hat trick, and to Dallas 2-1, at Tampa. The loss to Dallas was only the Rowdies' second in 15 home games, and was highlighted by an outburst by Coach Gordon Jago, who protested an offside call that nullified what would have been the tying goal for Tampa. The Rowdies lead in the American Conference East shrunk to nine points over second-place Fort Lauderdale. The Strikers lost to Rochester 2-1, but beat New England 4-3, in Boston. Clive Walker had a hat trick for the Strikers, including the game-winner at 82:23. It was announced that Rodney Marsh, the Rowdies' midfielder, would retire after a 17-year career in England and the NASL. With the inside track on securing the American Conference's home-field advantage, Houston lost at Detroit 4-2 as Trevor Francis scored a pair of goals for the Express, but beat Edmonton 4-3 in a shootout. National Conference Central champion Minnesota fell to ASC Western Division leader Vancouver 1-0, on a Bob Leonarduzzi goal at 23:30. But the Whitecaps, who need six points to clinch the division title, lost to second-place Los Angeles 2-0, with Johan Cruyff and Chris Dangerfield scoring for the Aztecs. Chicago clinched second place behind Houston in the ASC Central with a 2-1 overtime defeat of hapless Memphis. California extended its lead in the ASC West to 10 points over San Diego. The Surf beat San Jose twice, 2-0 in San Jose and 4-1 at California, while San Diego defeated Philadelphia 3-1 and lost to Seattle 2-0.

ASL: Los Angeles defeated Sacramento 3-0 in Los Angeles to move into second place in the Western Division. Mal Roche scored a pair of goals for the Skyhawks, who trail first-place California by 54 points. Las Vegas dropped three straight and saw whatever hopes it had of securing a playoff berth vanish. East Division leader Columbus beat the Seagulls 2-1 on a goal by Dan Mammana at 78:20 in a game in which its top two goalies, Claude Miceli (strained right knee) and Meno Droegmoeller (separated left shoulder), were injured. Las Vegas also lost to New Jersey 3-1. Pennsylvania defeated the Seagulls 2-0 as the Stoners closed in on the final Eastern Division playoff spot. The Indy Daredevils beat the New York Apollo 3-2 in double overtime, with Colin McLocklan getting the game-winner. The Apollos' John Motta had tied the match with a goal with 10 seconds left in regulation.

SPARTAKIADE—In the weight-lifting competition in Leningrad, SERGEI ARAKELOV of the Soviet Union, competing in the 243-pound division, established a world record in the snatch with a lift of 409 pounds, a pound more than the mark set by Valentin Khristov of Bulgaria in 1976.

SWIMMING—MARCUS HOOPER, a 12-year-old from London, became the youngest to swim the English Channel, crossing from Dover to Cap Gris-Nez in 14 hours, 37 minutes. Hooper is three months younger than Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who 24 hours earlier swam the Channel in 12 hours, 35 minutes.

TENNIS—JOHN ALEXANDER was declared the winner of the $175,000 Louisville International Classic when leg cramps forced his opponent in the finals, Terry Moor of Memphis, to retire in the third set.

Tracy Austin defeated Martina Navratilova 6-4, 6-2 to win a $75,000 tournament in San Diego.

Harold Solomon defeated Jose Higueras 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 to win the $175,000 Grand Prix tournament in Conway, N.H.

TRACK & FIELD—At the European Cup meet in Turin, MARITA KOCH of East Germany established a world record of 48.60 in the women's 400-meter run, .30 of a second faster than the mark she set last week in Potsdam. The East German women's 4x100-meter relay team equaled the world record in that event in 42.09.

VOLLEYBALL—IVA: In a match that might have been a preview of the league finals, Continental Division champion Denver defeated Santa Barbara, the Western Division leader, in five games before 6,035 in Denver's Auditorium Arena. It was the IVA's largest crowd of the season and the second largest in its history. Denver also beat Salt Lake and Albuquerque on the road, but lost in five games at Tucson. The victory was the Sky's fifth in seven matches with Denver this season, and kept them a game and a half in front of Salt Lake, which had wins over San Jose and Albuquerque in the race for the last Continental Division playoff berth. Santa Barbara also lost to the Diablos in four games at San Jose, but defeated the Smashers at Seattle in four. Seattle, which is assured of second place in the West, beat San Jose in five games but lost to Salt Lake in five.

MILEPOSTS—RESIGNED: DON KESSINGER, 37, as manager of the Chicago White Sox. Kessinger, who simultaneously retired as a player, had a 47-60 record in his first season as a manager, and as a reserve shortstop was batting .200. TONY LA RUSSA, 34, manager of the White Sox' Triple A team in Des Moines, was named interim manager.

SOLD: For $12 million by the family of Jerold Hoffberger, the BALTIMORE ORIOLES, to Washington attorney and Washington Redskins President Edward Bennett Williams.

TRADED: By the New York Yankees, Centerfielder MICKEY RIVERS, 30, and three minor league players, to Texas, for Outfielder/Designated Hitter OSCAR GAMBLE, 31, and three minor-leaguers. Rivers was hitting .289 this season and Gamble .335.

DIED: THURMAN MUNSON, 32, catcher and captain of the New York Yankees; in the crash of his private jet at the Akron-Canton airport. Munson, an All-America catcher at Kent State, came to the Yankees in 1969. In 1970, his first full season, he hit .302 and was voted American League Rookie of the Year. He won the MVP award in 1976, and was named to the All-Star team seven times. In 11 seasons with New York he hit .292 with 113 home runs and 701 RBIs.