Loser of foot race says winner hit him

An Ypsilanti man told police he was assaulted by a man in Ann Arbor after losing a foot race at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

Ann Arbor Police reported they went to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where the 24-year-old victim was being treated for facial injuries he said occurred in the 3500 block of Braeburn Circle about an hour earlier, reports said.

Officers initially thought the attack may be related to a report of shots fired in that area just before 2 a.m. The victim, however, denied any knowledge of a gun being involved.

He told police he challenged a professional football player to a footrace and lost because his shoe fell off. He said he paid the man an undisclosed amount of money and then the man sucker punched him, momentarily knocking him out.

He took himself to the hospital, reports said.

The victim was referred to the detective bureau to determine whether he wanted to pursue charges.