Adamu beats Carl Dilks to win Commonwealth title

Adamu beats Carl Dilks to win Commonwealth title

Dilks suffered the second defeat of his professional career

Ghana's Charles Adamu earned a split decision victory over Liverpool's Carl Dilks to win the vacant Commonwealth super-middleweight title on Friday.

Dilks, 26, suffered the second loss of his 15-fight professional career with the judges scoring the fight 116-113, 113-115 and 115-114 in favour of Adamu.
Adamu, 32, who took his record to 17 victories and four defeats.
"I'm only 26 and I can still come again and hopefully try to get a rematch and set the record straight," said Dilks.
Dilks, with a reach advantage, largely stuck behind his jab throughout the fight but Adamu's all-action style ultimately caught the judges eye.
"In the last round, I thought I'd done just enough to win it," said Dilks. "I thought it was very close going into the last minute - we needed a big round.
"I think I boxed the right fight. Maybe I should have been moving my head a little bit more but I've only had three-and-a-half weeks notice and I've done 12 rounds."

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Smith ready for Dodson challenge

Smith ready for Dodson challenge

British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith believes fellow Liverpool fighter Tony Dodson is an ideal opponent for his first title defence.

Smith, 27, will face former British champion Dodson, 29, at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on 12 March.
"You'll see the best of me with Tony Dodson because of the style," Smith told BBC Radio Merseyside.
"He'll come at me to fight and he'll leave himself open and that's when you see a good fight."
Smith was unhappy with his performance when he beat local rival Tony Quigley to take the title on Merseyside in October.
He feels opting to face Dodson in another derby fight is the right thing to do for his fans.

"I picked Tony Dodson, I wanted to fight him. I feel I owe the fans a little bit after my last performance so it's sort of a little payback to them and a thank you to them," he said.
"But back to the boxing side of things and I've sparred enough rounds with Tony Dodson to know what I can do to him."
Dodson became British Champion in 2003 before a series of injuries forced him to relinquish the belt.
He has since lost two attempts to win it back against Carl Froch in 2006 and Quigley in 2009.
The 'Garston warrior' as he is known admits this fight could be his final chance to reclaim the title.
"I'm in the last chance saloon but my time is going to come and I genuinely believe this is my time," Dodson said.

"It's been a passion to try and get it back. I mean, four chances for the British Title? I don't think there's anyone in Liverpool that can ever say (they've had) that."
Should Smith come through his meeting with Dodson unscathed his handlers are hoping to get him a crack at WBO world champion Robert Stieglitz.
While Smith would relish the chance to fight the German, he says for now he is looking no further than Dodson.
"Everything is dependant on me beating Dodson, my whole life and career is dependant on me beating Dodson.
"I don't want to lose and I won't lose. I'll do everything I can in training and on the night to make sure that doesn't happen."

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Kelly Pavlik stops Miguel Espino to retain titles

Kelly Pavlik stops Miguel Espino to retain titles

Pavlik was returning to the ring after 10 month absence

American Kelly Pavlik retained his WBC and WBO middleweight titles with a fifth-round stoppage of compatriot Miguel Espino in Ohio on Saturday.

Pavlik, returning after 10 months out with a hand infection, dropped Espino in the fourth with a stunning right uppercut and ended it a round later.
It was Pavlik's third successful defence of the two belts he won by defeating Jermain Taylor in 2007.
"I'm definitely back," said Pavlik, who holds a record of 36 wins and one loss.
Pavlik had not fought since a defence against Marco Antonio Rubio in February.
After winning the title in 2007 he made a successful first defence against Welshman Gary Lockett, then lost a non-title fight against Bernard Hopkins, before returning to defeat Rubio earlier this year.
"We're not going to have another lay-off," said Pavlik.
"The hand held up great. It's a little tender, but nothing ice can't fix."
Espino was rated the number three contender by the WBC, but few gave the Californian much of a chance in his first tilt at a major title.
He was deducted a point for punching after the bell following the first round, then was warned in the second and third for repeated low blows.
"I thought I hurt him a few times," said Espino.
"He didn't think I could hit. He thought he could bully me, but I don't remember taking one step back. If there was ever a day to take a champion down, today was the day."
Pavlik, 27, will now turn his attention to Paul Williams, whom he was supposed to fight on 3 October.
His hand infection originally caused the fight to be postponed until 5 December, and it was then cancelled when Pavlik realised his left hand was still injured.
American Williams decided to fight Sergio Martinez on that date instead, winning on points.
Pavlik said Williams is now the priority, but if another deal cannot be reached, he will turn his attentions to WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Edwin Valero defended his WBC lightweight title by defeating Mexican Hector Velazquez, who retired on his stool at the end of the sixth round.
It was undefeated Valero's 26th straight victory inside the scheduled distance having won his first 18 fights as a professional in the opening round.

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Tiger Woods named Athlete of the Decade

Tiger Woods named Athlete of the Decade

Accenture ended its sponsorship of Woods on Monday

Tiger Woods has been voted Athlete of the Decade by US sports editors, four days after he announced a break from golf to try to save his marriage.

Woods got 56 of the 142 votes in the Associated Press poll, followed by Lance Armstrong and Roger Federer.

More than half of the ballots were returned after the car crash at Woods's Florida mansion, which led to a series of revelations about his private life.

Woods has apologised for "infidelity" and vowed to be a "better person."

The award is recognition for a sportsman who has single-handedly dominated his sport throughout the decade.

Woods, 33, has won 64 tournaments worldwide since 2000, including 12 majors. His overall tally of 14 leaves him four behind Jack Nicklaus.

The award is likely to be of little comfort to Woods, who has been engulfed in a media storm since the crash on 27 November.

Several of his alleged mistresses have spoken about their relationships with the golfer to newspapers, websites and television outlets.

On Saturday, Woods said he was taking an "indefinite break" from golf to "try to repair the damage done" to his family and asked for privacy.

His wife Elin has been looking after their two children as speculation grows about the future of their marriage.

Woods suffered another blow on Monday when giant management consultancy firm Accenture announced it was ending its sponsorship of the golfer.

Cyclist Armstrong, who won six of his seven Tour De France titles this decade, won 33 votes, eight more than Federer, who landed a record 15th Grand Slam tennis crown at Wimbledon in July.

And on Thursday he was named male player of the year by the Golf Writers Association of America, the 10th time he has won the award in his 13-year professional career.

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Sergio Garcia worried about persistent hand injury

Sergio Garcia worried about persistent hand injury

Garcia hopes to be fully fit to compete in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Sergio Garcia will seek a specialist's advice after revealing he is still troubled by the hand injury that has kept him from playing for three weeks.

The Spaniard suffered a sprain in the third round of last month's Dubai World Championship, where he came seventh.
And Garcia said he still feels pain in his right hand.
"The hand is not well, it's not healing as fast as we thought it would. Even with the rest it's not better and we're a little bit worried," he said.
Garcia, 29, won one tournament and earned £1.66m in prize money in 2009.
He now hopes to shake off his hand problem in time to compete in the £2.3m Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, which runs from 21-24 January.
"I've tried to swing and I can't," he said. "(But) I'd like to start the tournament at Abu Dhabi completely healed."

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Scots golfer Matthew lands honour

Scots golfer Matthew lands honour

Scots golfer Catriona Matthew described being appointed MBE in the New Year Honours List as "the icing on the cake" following a memorable 2009.

Matthew, 40, won the Ricoh British Open at Royal Lytham 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter.

"This is a wonderful surprise and a fantastic end to what has been a very special year," said Matthew.

"Having had Sophie in May, I never envisaged winning a major golf championship this year."

The four-time Solheim Cup player was also named Ladies European Tour Players' Player of the Year in December.

Her three-stroke triumph at Royal Lytham and St Annes in August made her the first Scottish woman to clinch victory in a major.

Over 15 years as a professional, Matthew, from North Berwick, has won six international titles and played for Europe at the Solheim Cup on five occasions.

This season, she finished second on the Ladies European Tour's Henderson Money List and was 26th on the American money list after only 10 starts on the LPGA Tour.

"The reaction and the recognition I have had has been amazing and I'm very grateful to everyone for their support," said Matthew.

"The MBE really is the icing on the cake."

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Thursday, she said: "It's a great honour. To go down to Buckingham Palace to receive it will be a great day out for the whole family.

"I hope it will raise the profile of ladies' golf, anything to encourage more girls to play in this country."

In a statement, the Ladies European Tour praised Matthew's efforts on the circuit, and congratulated her appointment.

The statement read: "Catriona has always been a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf but she shot to prominence in 2009 as one of the UK's finest sporting talents with her sensational victory at the Ricoh British Open.

"In recognition of her achievements, the Ladies European Tour membership recently voted her as the Players' Player of the Year and clearly she thoroughly deserves this honour.

"Her conduct on and off the course is exemplary and in sport there can be no greater role model."

Meanwhile, Terry McLernon, who runs a successful table tennis club in Glasgow's Drumchapel housing scheme, has also been appointed MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

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Tennis equipment guide

Tennis equipment guide

Tennis has always been something of a fashion show.
It began in the 1930s when Frenchman Rene Lacoste promoted his own brand of sports shirts by sporting the Lacoste crocodile logo on court.
Now, tennis fashion is a multi-million pound industry.
But specialist equipment does not have to be expensive. All you need is a racquet, balls and trainers.
You could spend anything up to £800 on a full outfit and racquet. But you can pick up kit including a racquet for as little as £50.
But the racquet may be the one piece of equipment worth spending a little more money on.

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Find your nearest tennis court

Find your nearest tennis court

he LTA's website is a great starting place to find out where you can play tennis but there are several other options.

Do you want to follow the likes of Williams (left) and Federer?

Find your nearest court

You can search easily for your nearest tennis club wherever you are in England, Wales and Scotland and there are over 2,500 clubs to choose from so the chances are there's one near you.

Tennis for Free

If you don't want to play at a club you can also play at local courts for free. Simply click on the map on the Tennis for Free website.

Find your club in Northern Ireland

In Ireland you can search the Ulster Branch of Tennis Ireland's site.

British Tennis Foundation

For information on wheelchair tennis contact the British Tennis Foundation.

Start to play tennis

If you aren't sure of your options as an adult or kid, whether you just want to play or get coaching, the LTA website can point you in the right direction.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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Stakhovsky Ousts Fourth Seed Youzhny; Troicki Into Second Round

Stakhovsky Ousts Fourth Seed Youzhny; Troicki Into Second Round

 

lifetime in Doha Monday.

Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky avenged his 2009 Kremlin Cup defeat to World No. 19 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia on Monday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a 7-6(11), 6-2 win in one hour and 45 minutes.  Youzhny had beaten Stakhovsky in straight sets en route to the Moscow title in October.
World No. 60 Stakhovsky, who captured his second ATP World Tour title at the St. Petersburg Open (d. Zeballos) in October, saved two breaks points he faced and hit nine aces.  Fourth seed Youzhny won 31 per cent of points on return of serve and hit five double faults.

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Russian Ernests Gulbis also posted an opening day upset at the ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament in Doha, ousting No. 6 seed Albert Montanes of Spain 6-2, 7-5 as he fired 13 aces and won three of his 10 break point chances. 
Earlier in the day, fifth-seeded Serbian Viktor Troicki hit 10 aces past Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain for a 6-1, 7-5 win in just 56 minutes.  Troicki, runner-up to Gilles Simon at the PTT Thailand Open in early October, beat No. 72-ranked Gimeno-Traver in five sets at Wimbledon last year.
World No. 29 Troicki next faces Belgian Olivier Rochus, who cruised past Qatari wild card Abdulla Hajji 6-1, 6-0 in 38 minutes.
Seventh-seeded Croatian Ivo Karlovic recorded his first win in three appearances at Doha, after he defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 34 minutes.  Having hit an ATP World Tour-best 890 aces in 2009, the 30-year-old Karlovic opened his account this year with seven aces.  He won 67 per cent of service points overall.
“I’m really happy,” said Karlovic. “It was not easy because it’s the first match of the year, but I was playing well and I’m satisfied with the way I was playing.”
The 37th-ranked Croat awaits the winner between Austrian Daniel Koellerer and German qualifier Benjamin Becker in the second round, and said about his potential opponents: “They’re both playing well. It is not going to be an easy match, but I think that Becker is in a little advantage.  I played against him a few times two or three years ago and it was always a difficult match, so it is going to be interesting.”
In other first-round matches, Switzerland’s Marco Chiudinelli defeated Paolo Lorenzi 7-5, 6-3 and Italian Potito Starace posted a 6-2, 6-0 win over Frederico Gil.
Benjamin Becker, Steve Darcis, Mikhail Kukushkin and Ryler Deheart all won final round qualifying matches on Monday to take their places in the main draw.

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Justine Henin registers comeback win in Brisbane

Justine Henin registers comeback win in Brisbane

Henin celebrates victory on her return to professional tennis

Belgium's Justine Henin made a winning return to professional tennis with victory over Russia's Nadia Petrova in the Brisbane International first round.

In her first match since retiring in May 2008, the former world number one beat second seed Petrova 7-5 7-5.
"I have been waiting for this moment for so long. I am so happy about what I did on court," said the seven-time Grand Slam champion.
Petrova added: "Henin is playing better tennis than before she retired."
Third seed Ana Ivanovic, another former world number one, also reached the second round following a 7-5 1-6 6-3 win over Australian Jelena Dokic.
The 22-year-old, who has slipped to 21st in the rankings, was playing in her first match since a first-round exit at the hands of Czech Lucie Safarova in Tokyo in September.
In the men's event, top seed Andy Roddick won his first match since suffering a knee injury in October, beating Australia's Peter Luczak 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.
Henin stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement in May 2008, when she was still ranked number one in the world.
However, she returned to training five months ago in preparation for a return to the tour.
And in a hard-fought win over world number 20 Petrova, she showed she had lost none of her battling qualities.
"Everything went well," admitted Henin. "I have a lot to work on but for a first match, a first tough round, I can be really positive today.
"I feel better today than when I retired, that's for sure. Better emotionally, mentally, better with myself and that makes a big difference - that I will enjoy being on the tour again.
She will next play qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan, who beat Australia's Casey Dellacqua 6-2 0-6 7-6 (7-1).
Ivanovic, who did not win a tournament in 2009, will meet Switzerland's Timea Bacsinszky in her next match as she looks to regain the form that took her to the French Open title in 2008.
"Obviously there were nerves in the beginning but I did a really good preparation and that gave me a lot of confidence," she stated.
"I thought I was serving and moving a lot better than my previous match, which has been a while, so it's definitely good to have a victory under the belt."
Roddick had to pull out of the season-ending with the knee injury that curtailed his season.
However, he said he was happy with his fitness ahead of the Australian Open.
"I by no means expected to come in after four months and breeze right into it," he said.
"First rounds are always a bit dicey. I was hitting it all right towards the end, so that's a good thing."
Frenchman Richard Gasquet said he benefited from playing with "nothing in the head" as he saw off Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 4-6 6-4.
Gasquet tested positive for cocaine in March 2009 but was finally cleared of wrongdoing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December.
"I'm not a different player. I just lost six months. For sure, I need to have a rhythm," said the 23-year-old.
"I spent a lot of time with a big story in my head. That's why it's not easy to come back, that's why I'm happy to win."

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Andy Murray and Laura Robson win opening Hopman Cup tie

Andy Murray and Laura Robson win opening Hopman Cup tie

Robson and Murray paired up for the first time to come through the mixed doubles

Britain completed a 2-1 victory against Kazakhstan in the Hopman Cup after a gruelling triumph in the mixed doubles.

After Laura Robson's opening defeat, Andy Murray swept aside the world number 133 Andrey Golubev to win 6-2 6-2 in the eight-team competition.
Murray and Robson then beat Golubev and Yaroslava Shvedova after a 12-10 final set win in the champions tie-break.
Britain, seeded third at the round-robin event, will face Germany on Wednesday and Russia on Friday.
Australia, Spain, Romania and the USA contest Group A.
The winners of the two groups will go through to the final on 9 January.
Britain have not played in the event since 1992, when Jo Durie and Jeremy Bates led the challenge, and Robson and Murray seemed to relish a rare chance to play mixed doubles.
Asked what had happened in the second set, Murray quipped: "I'm going to blame her a little bit though because she started asking me if I moisturise my hands and I think maybe she lost her concentration just a little bit
"But she's only 15 so I'll let her off. It was fun. She hit me on the back at one point - I don't think I really deserved that... it was sore already because I was carrying her!"
Robson matched her senior partner in the banter department with a nice line in self-deprecation and responded with: "I'm kind of proud of my volleys in the tie-break, they're the only ones I made!
"I will take out of the evening that I should work more on my serve and we should communicate more so that he doesn't hit me!"
Murray has this year changed his preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on 18 January, as he targets an elusive maiden Grand Slam title.
The Scot has in the past played at the Qatar Open in Doha, but instead headed straight for Australia after completing his traditional three-week training camp in Miami.
And, playing his first match of the new year, the 22-year-old world number four got off to a flier against Golubev, securing an early break in the fourth game.
Murray conceded only one point on his service in the opening set before breaking again to clinch it in 28 minutes.
"It was perfect, he made me do a lot of running and there were lots of fun points in there," said the world number four.
"This is great preparation for the Australian Open because you get at three singles matches and three doubles and you hit a lot of balls, whereas you could just lose in your first match in the other competitions going on this week."
Robson's debut in the competition did not run quite so smoothly, although she did take the first set from the flu-ridden world number 52 Shvedova.
The Briton was cruising when her Kazakh opponent called a five-minute medical time-out at the end of the set, but Shvedova fought off illness to win the final eight games and secure victory.

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Manny Pacquiao issues Floyd Mayweather Jr with lawsuit

Manny Pacquiao issues Floyd Mayweather Jr with lawsuit

Mayweather Jr and Pacquaio would have earned millions from the fight

Manny Pacquiao has launched legal proceedings against Floyd Mayweather for accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

The Filipino pulled out of a lucrative fight to face Mayweather on 13 March after the American demanded Olympic-style drugs tests ahead of the bout.
The lawsuit filed in a Las Vegas court names Mayweather's father, uncle and Golden Boy Promotions.
Oscar de la Hoya, founder of Golden Boy, is also mentioned.
The lawsuit claims the Mayweathers, six-weight world champion De la Hoya, and Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer knew that WBO welterweight champion Pacquaio has never taken performance-enhancing drugs and made their statements out of "ill-will, spite, malice, revenge, and envy".
Pacquaio's lawyer Daniel Petrocelli said: "Manny's achievements come from God-given talent and an indefatigable work ethic - not steroids.
"He cannot and will not allow others to deliberately misrepresent his years of hard work and tarnish his reputation."

My way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles Manny Pacquaio

Pacquaio withdrew from what was expected to be the richest fight in boxing history last week following a disagreement about blood tests 30 days prior to the fight.
The Filipino said he would only give blood before the initial media conference and immediately after the fight.
Although Pacquaio said he would agree to testing by the same agencies that conduct tests for pro American Football and baseball players, he would not sign up to random tests by the US Anti-Doping Agency.
Promoter Bob Arum accused Mayweather's camp of raising the issue not because they were worried about Pacquiao taking performance-enhancing substances, but because Mayweather Jr never wanted to fight in the first place.
Pacquaio signalled his intentions to take matters into the court room on Christmas Day.
"I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible," said the 31-year-old, who has never tested positive for performance-enhancing substances.
"Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr, Jr and Golden Boy Promotions think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
"I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard.
"I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the number one boxer in the world,"
"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it.
"I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.
"Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr, don't be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring."
Mayweather's team tried to diffuse the issue in a statement last week.
It read: "Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything.
"But the reality seems to be that, for whatever reason, Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to, prior to and during competition."
Unbeaten Mayweather and five-weight champion Pacquaio - considered to be the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world - were set to meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in the biggest fight since the turn of the century.
Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Nevada-based Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.

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British boxing set fair for 2010

British boxing set fair for 2010

While 2009 will largely be remembered in British boxing circles as the year Joe Calzaghe hung them up and Ricky Hatton was smashed to smithereens by Manny Pacquiao, it was also a year of rebirth for the sport in this country.
Calzaghe's retirement in February left Carl Froch as Britain's only world champion, down from a peak of seven in 2007, but green shoots soon forced their way through what some doom-mongers were claiming was infertile soil.
In April, Froch mounted one of the great comebacks to beat Jermain Taylor, and while his first fight in the innovative super-middleweight Super Six tournament was a stinker, he lived to fight another day.

David Haye defends his title against John Ruiz in 2010 - then for the Klitschkos
The Super Six, masterminded by American broadcaster Showtime, is a rare triumph of common sense and concord in boxing, the top men in the division fighting each other to decide who's best. So simple, fans can be forgiven for wondering why it doesn't happen more often.
Having squeaked past American Andre Dirrell, Nottingham's Froch now faces Denmark's Mikkel Kessler in Copenhagen in April. Kessler lost his WBA belt to former Olympic champion Andre Ward in November and a defeat to Froch would scupper his chances of advancing to the semi-finals. It's likely to get desperate, which means it could be a classic.
Amir Khan jumped to light-welterweight to wrest the WBA belt from Andry Kotelnik in July, although this win and his subsequent 76-second demolition of Dmitry Salita failed to silence the doubters, who won't shut up until the Bolton man beats a world-class operator who can bang.
Whatever your take on Khan, 2009 was certainly an improvement on 2008, which ended with his quite shocking defeat at the hands of unheralded Colombian Breidis Prescott. Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Marquez has been mentioned as a possible first opponent on American soil in 2010, although Hatton might have something to say about that.
Paulie Malignaggi, demolished by Hatton in Vegas in 2008, has emerged as a more likely opponent for Khan. Malignaggi ticks a lot of boxes. He is a former world champion, he is coming off an impressive-looking win, and he's American. But the most important box ticked is the one that has "couldn't break an egg" written next to it.
Kevin Mitchell oozed class in beating Breidis Prescott, suggesting he's ready for bigger things
As for Hatton, he says he has "the itch" again and admits Marquez is top of his wishlist. The news that The Hitman, now 31, wants one more "war" for the road will please some but leave many more wincing.
In November, David Haye did what he had to do in beating Russian brute Nikolay Valuev and claiming the WBA heavyweight belt. In so doing, he became the first Briton to own a portion of the heavyweight world title since Lennox Lewis in 2003.
Not everyone has taken to Haye, but no-one can deny the cocky Londoner has turned up the heat and got boxing's Blue Riband division bubbling again. Mandatory challenger John Ruiz looks tailor-made, and then it will be time to go Klitschko hunting.
Vitali looks like he fancies it most, which could be bad news for the Englishman, as the WBC title-holder is flintier than younger brother Wladimir, owner of the IBF and WBO straps. That said, the 39-year-old Vitali looked sluggish in beating Kevin Johnson earlier this month and could be appearing on Haye's radar at exactly the right time. Vitali or Wladimir, it will be fun. That's always the way with Haye.
Other Brits to manoeuvre themselves into world title contention in 2009 were Dagenham lightweight Kevin Mitchell, Leicester super-bantamweight Rendall Munroe and Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes (remember him?).
Munroe, 29, is a grafter, and not just because his day job is collecting bins. He fought three times in 2009, culminating in a nuggety defence of his European crown against Italy's Simone Maludrottu last month.
Munroe is now the mandatory challenger for WBC title-holder Toshiaki Nishioka, although he may have to travel to Japan to fight him.
Mitchell, 25, gave one of the most educated ring displays of 2009 in beating Prescott earlier this month. The former British and Commonwealth super-featherweight champion had garnered a reputation as an all-action scrapper, but his victory over the "Khanqueror" was something more cerebral.
Marquez is the current WBA lightweight champion but is likely to vacate, which would leave Australian hardman and WBA 'interim' champion Michael Katsidis blocking Mitchell's path to the title.
However, Mitchell has expressed an interest in fighting British champion John Murray, and that's a fight that would seem to make perfect sense. Manchester's Murray, like Mitchell, has long been linked with a match against Khan, and a Murray-Mitchell contest could double as a de facto eliminator for Khan's crown, while also being a quality domestic contest in its own right.
Rhodes, 33, first fought for a world title back in 1997, but his brutal seven-round victory over Salford's Jamie Moore in October, which saw him claim the European light-middleweight crown, could lead to a second shot.
British welterweight champion Kell Brook defended his title twice in 2009 and his promoter Frank Warren may decide he's ready for bigger things should he get past Chorley's Michael Jennings in February.
Brook, the 2009 young boxer of the year, looks the real deal, and it's a toss-up as to whether he or stable-mate Nathan Cleverly, the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion, will fight for world honours first.
Deserted by Calzaghe and Hatton, undone by some reckless matchmaking in the case of Khan, Warren looked vulnerable this time last year. But his new gaggle are coming along nicely, and one or two of them are starting to take on a golden hue. British boxing, Warren will reflect as the new year rolls round, is doing just fine.

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Holyfield v Botha fight in Uganda is delayed

Holyfield v Botha fight in Uganda is delayed

Holyfield continues to defy those who feel he should have retired long ago

Evander Holyfield's fight against Francois Botha for the World Boxing Federation heavyweight title has been postponed until 20 February.

Holyfield's bid for the lightly-regarded belt was set for Kampala's Nambole Stadium on 16 January.
But Pro Box Promotions manager Eddie Bazira said: "We need more time to publicise it and give the fighters ample time to prepare themselves.
"I assure the world that the fight will take place."
Holyfield, 47, has not fought since losing on points to Nikolay Valuev in a WBA title fight in December 2008.
The four-time world champion believes victory in Uganda could earn him another shot at a more prestigious title.
Holyfield's record stands at 47 wins and 10 losses, with two draws, and he has vowed to fight on until he regains a recognised version of the world heavyweight crown.
Many fans and pundits felt he should have been awarded the decision against Valuev in Zurich, and the Russian has since lost his title to Britain's David Haye.
Holyfield said: "I'm very much looking forward to going to Uganda and I expect a tough fight against Francois Botha.
"I am going to win and I will cherish the WBF title."
South Africa's Botha (47-4 with 3 draws) has lost to former world champions Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Michael Moorer in the past.
He beat Ron Guerrero last February to claim the vacant WBF title, defended it with a split-decision win over Timo Hoffman in May, and retained the belt with a draw against Pedro Carrion in October.
Botha said: "I have always been my own harshest critic, and my performance against Carrion was arguably the worst of my career.
"Expect the fittest, toughest and best ever Francois Botha in Uganda. I owe my fans and members of Team Botha the performance of my life. I intend to make good on that."

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Beaumont aiming for tour success

Beaumont aiming for tour success

Beaumont has played for the England Academy prior to her call up to the full squad

It has come sooner than she expected but new England wicketkeeper Tamsin Beaumont is determined to make the most of her call-up to the national side.

With regular keeper Sarah Taylor taking a break from the game, 18-year-old Beaumont has been picked by England to tour the West Indies next month.
"I thought it would take a lot longer. I was thinking in the next two years I might get in," Beaumont told BBC Sport.
"But I want to enjoy myself and take the opportunity I've been given."
Beaumont, who also opens the batting as well as keeping wicket for Kent, could be forgiven for feeling nervous ahead of joining up with the England side for their trip to the Caribbean.
In the last 12 months, the national team have swept aside all before them, winning both the World Cup and World Twenty20 as well as successfully defending the Ashes against the touring Australians.
Now unquestionably the number one side in the world, the team is comprised of players whose profiles have risen as a result of their achievements, including captain Charlotte Edwards and ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year Claire Taylor.

The standard of the women's game has got higher since I started playing. There are a lot more girls playing and a lot more competition and I think we're getting a lot more recognition now for how good the women's game is Tamsin Beaumont

However, Beaumont, who kept wicket in the England Women's Academy matches against an ICC Europe XI in August and was an integral part of the Kent side that won the County Championship, refuses to be overawed.
"It's a great time to be part of the England side now and they are a great bunch of girls," she said.
"I've played with some of them and against a lot of them. They all seem very friendly so I'm sure I'll fit in really easily.
"I think Kent's successful season will help as well.
"You can transfer success and the way Kent is run and the way we work there can hopefully feed into the England team."
Beaumont's transition to the international scene from the county game should also be assisted by national skipper Edwards also being the young keeper's captain at Kent.
Both Edwards and Beaumont have made telling contributions to the 10-game run of successive wins that secured the County Championship for Kent, the latter's highlight being a superb 136 from 144 balls in the match against Surrey at Beckenham in August.

The England women's side celebrate their World Cup win

Beaumont admitted that Edwards had phoned her after she had been selected with words of encouragement - most notably that "the hard work starts now".
The youngster certainly has a tough task ahead of her to fill the shoes of the woman she is replacing.
Sussex wicketkeeper and opening batter Sarah Taylor is one of the finest talents to emerge into the England team for many years and played an integral role in the team's 2009 success.
While Beaumont is doubtful that she will be asked to undertake Taylor's role at the top of the batting order, she is aware that her predecessor sets a high benchmark to follow with the gloves.
"Sarah is a brilliant wicketkeeper and if I can be nearly as good then I won't have done too badly," said Beaumont.
England are due to play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches against the West Indies in St Kitts as they prepare for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, the group stages of which will be played on the same island.
Helping England to success on her first tour is Beaumont's chief aim, but she admits that the trip will give the side a good opportunity to acclimatise for next May's tournament.
"We want to continue the success that the team has had over the summer and we are looking to win the series (both ODI and T20) first and foremost," she said.
"Secondly, I think we will try and work out what the conditions are like out there ready for the World Cup next year.
"I don't think the England team have toured West Indies in quite a long time so it could be a new experience for most of us."
Although the West Indies currently lag behind the likes of England, Australia and New Zealand, Beaumont admits that the general standard of the women's game has improved in recent years, which along with England's recent success has led to a better public awareness.
"I definitely think the standard of the women's game has got higher since I started playing," said Beaumont. "There are a lot more girls playing and a lot more competition and I think we're getting a lot more recognition now for how good the women's game is.
"I remember going for my Kent trial when I was 10 and there were only about 13 girls trialling and I know now because I've got a friend who is a coach that they trial about 30 girls, all under 11."

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Claire Taylor delighted by 'special' MBE honour

Claire Taylor delighted by 'special' MBE honour

Taylor was Player of the Tournament in the World Cup and World Twenty20

England batter Claire Taylor described her MBE as a "bit special" after being named in the New Year Honours List.

"Getting cricket-specific awards is great because it's recognition within cricket," the 34-year-old said.
"But this is recognition in the wider community so this is special but in a completely different way."
Taylor helped England to a World Cup/World Twenty20 double in 2009 and two months ago was named Women's Cricketer of the Year.
In April, she also made history by becoming the first female cricketer to be chosen as one of Wisden's five players of the year.

Taylor, who is currently in the middle of a break from the game in order to concentrate on work commitments and will miss England's upcoming tour to India, said her MBE had capped "a really brilliant 2009".
She expects to return to action for England's defence of the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean in May.
Looking further ahead, she hopes the profile of the women's game in England - and around the rest of the world - will continue to grow over the next few years.
She wants cricket to be "an accepted sporting path for a girl, and for younger and older women as well".
Taylor added: "The elite players need to keep pushing forward and keep pushing the boundary of the quality of the game that we play and to keep building that respect that there is for the game.
"Other countries will get better and it's not just a matter of throwing money at it, I don't think that's the answer at all.
"It's making sure that we play the right competitions and we have the right opportunities to play against international opposition."

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South Africa seamers make England fight in Cape Town Africa

South Africa seamers make England fight in Cape Town Africa

England's batsmen played some poor shots but fought back to finish day two of the third Test in Cape Town on 241-7 in reply to South Africa's 291. Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen made just two runs between them as England slumped to 73-4 on a good wicket. Alastair Cook (65), Ian Bell (48) and Matt Prior (52 not out) slowly rebuilt the innings, but the bowlers dominated. England had finished off South Africa's innings by grabbing four wickets in 17 balls, with James Anderson taking 5-63. Three more wickets tumbled in a dramatic first session but England, seeking to preserve their 1-0 lead in the four-match series, looked to be recovering until Morne Morkel trapped Paul Collingwood lbw for 19 soon after that lunch. That wicket left the tourists gasping for breath as they trailed by more than 200 with four top batsmen dismissed on a sunny day at Newlands. However, three much-needed partnerships of 60, 41 and 51 meant England still had a chance of establishing some sort of lead - though Prior and Graeme Swann (five not out) will face a ball just 10 deliveries old on the third morning - and thus far the new, hard ball has proved a dangerous proposition for batsmen. When play started 15 minutes early on Monday, England's bowlers had a ball that was barely three overs old at their disposal, and they used it quite brilliantly. With the second delivery of the day, Graham Onions bowled a terrific, fast leg-cutter at Jacques Kallis which South Africa's star batsman could only edge to Prior having failed to add to his overnight 108. Anderson then got seriously busy, striking with his first ball, the seventh of the morning, as Dale Steyn edged to a diving Jonathan Trott at fourth slip. Cook hopes England can close gap Three balls later he got one to jag away from the left-handed Morkel, Swann diving full length to take the catch at second slip, and the man from Burnley wrapped up the innings with his seventh delivery as Friedel de Wet was beaten by an inswinger and adjudged lbw. It had taken just 17 balls for England to take South Africa's last four wickets, but the wicket-taking vibe was swiftly picked up by Morkel and Steyn on a perfect summer's day in Newlands widely predicted to be tailor-made for batting. Strauss, playing with the freedom of man who scored 1,172 runs in 2009, was a bit too confident. Aiming a drive at a wide ball nipping away from him, the last ball of the first over, his thin nick was caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. Morkel led South Africa's bowling attack well in Cape Town Cook and Jonathan Trott made steady, largely untroubled progress as the new ball gradually softened and consequently moved off the seam less. But they could not reach the sanctuary of lunch unscathed as Steyn, surprisingly not called upon to open the bowling, took two wickets in his third over. First Trott, defending on the back foot to a ball he could have allowed to pass over the stumps, saw the ball crash onto his stumps off an angled bat. Then Pietersen lasted just two deliveries, coming forward to a straight, full-length ball but playing too early and knocking a catch back to the bowler - which Steyn took well, one-handed, to his right. Cook's stand with Collingwood lasted 11.3 overs either side of lunch, with 37 runs added. Once again, neither man looked inconvenienced until the next wicket fell - Collingwood missing a straight ball from Morkel, possibly defeated by pace, the ball thudding into his pads in front of middle stump. Uneven wicket thrills Kallis There was some pace and bounce in the wicket but it seemed curious that the bowlers were dominating. Then England achieved a more meaningful stand, through Bell and Cook, the two centurions in England's victory in Durban in the previous Test. Bell's innings was patience made flesh - there was just one scoring shot from the first 36 balls he faced, a cover-drive for four off Steyn - but he was happy to build slowly while Cook stepped it up with some aggression against Paul Harris. The spinner did not enter the attack until the 37th over and was not allowed to settle as Cook swept him for two fours and confidently advanced to loft him over short mid-wicket for another. Bell moved into the 20s with a couple of well-placed cut shots off De Wet before Cook survived a big scare when sweeping JP Duminy against the spin, his top-edge looping over Hashim Amla at short-leg and just evading the fielder's dive as he turned and tried to get under the ball. The low point of England's day: Steyn removing Pietersen for a duck England took tea at 133-4, with Cook on 65 and Bell 24 in a partnership worth 60 at that stage, but Cook played a dreadful shot four balls into the final session, a gentle pull shot he intended to lap round the corner. But he got it all wrong and Ashwell Prince, standing just in front of square-leg, sprang to his left to take a neat catch. It appeared to be a massive blow for England to suffer at that stage, but Bell's initial reaction was to stroke three cut shots for four in a single Steyn over - each placed at a slightly different angle - as Graeme Smith's efforts to plug the gaps was defied. It was the sort of batsmanship from Bell that Wally Hammond was fabled for producing. But having worked so hard he played a shot that was just plain Wally - a flat-footed cut that this time picked out the midriff of Duminy at point to gift Kallis a wicket. South Africa's seamers scrapped hard all day, rarely bowling poor deliveries, but the chance of gaining a big lead inside two days evaporated late on as Prior and Broad scored at a brighter rate than England's earlier batsmen. Finally, Steyn hurried one through Broad's defences to bowl him for 25, matching Morkel's three wickets with a trio of important scalps of his own. Prior played the best shot of a gritty innings when pulling Morkel for four as the new ball was taken and the Sussex wicket-keeper has the chance of inconveniencing South Africa further on Tuesday.

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Australia bowlers hit late to stem Pakistan run flow

Australia bowlers hit late to stem Pakistan run flow

Peter Siddle (left) saw Imran Farhat dropped off his own bowling

Australia's bowlers salvaged some pride with seven late wickets on day two but Pakistan still looked strong in the second Test with a lead of 204 runs.

Resuming on 14-0, Pakistan openers Imran Farhat (53) and Salman Butt (71) put on 109 for the first wicket and the tourists looked in control at 205-2.
Mohammad Yousuf and Umar Akmal also impressed but Australia hit back with the ball as Pakistan closed on 331-9.
Doug Bollinger claimed three scalps and Shane Watson picked up two late ones.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting will be pleased with the way his players battled back following their disappointing first innings total of 127 on the opening day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Star bowler Bollinger, who ended the day with figures of 3-70, said :"It was a good fightback by the guys. It was a bit frustrating early but they were two-for at tea and now they're nine down.
"I think just try and get out the last one and then get our batting hats on and get something to bowl to in the second innings."
But it was steady progress for the Pakistan openers early on and Imran Farhat, dropped on 11 by Marcus North off Peter Siddle, secured his 13th Test half-century just after lunch.
The left hander's three-hour innings came to an end soon after when his attempted sweep off Nathan Hauritz popped into the hands of Brad Haddin.
Haddin also held a catch to end Butt's innings, with Mitchell Johnson the bowler.
Faisal Iqbal (27) was the first to fall after tea when he slashed a wide one from Siddle and was caught by Watson at deep point.
Skipper Mohammad Yousuf hit a quick-fire 46 to maintain Pakistan's momentum and Umar Akmal struck 49 off 48 balls before being trapped lbw by Bollinger.
It was an important breakthrough as Bollinger then picked up two more victims with the new ball to leave Watson to remove two tailenders shortly before the close.
Pakistan's highest scorer was Butt with 71 and the stylish left-hander warned the Australian batsmen they would face a tricky time when they commence their second innings.
"The time you think that you're in and suddenly the ball does something, so you've got to have a good laugh about it and stay relaxed because it's not under your control," Butt said.
"Definitely this pitch is not going to change completely. It's not going to become a batting paradise.
"There will always be something for the seamers and hopefully the spinners also get help and if Danish (Kaneria) can do what he's capable of we'll be well off."

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Jonathan Agnew column

Jonathan Agnew column

Eleven wickets fell on a dramatic second day that felt right for batting. Clear blue skies and warm sunshine counted for nothing as, Jacques Kallis apart, none of the batsmen can claim to have been undone by difficult deliveries.

Bell fell two runs short of what would have been his 22nd Test fifty

Once James Anderson and Graham Onions had blown away the remaining four South African wickets for just 12 runs in 17 balls - with Anderson claiming a remarkable 3-1 - England had to bat patiently and aim to repeat the procedure that had been so successful in Durban.
But they were given a poor example to follow by captain Andrew Strauss, who drove loosely at the sixth ball of the innings, which was well wide of his off-stump, and edged Morne Morkel to the wicketkeeper.
Strauss is clearly in good touch, and was keen to continue batting positively, but it was a bad stroke and one that lifted South African spirits after their thoroughly deflating batting display.
Jonathan Trott was the next to perish to a bad shot when he aimed to force Dale Steyn through the off side, but did not move his feet and chopped the ball into his stumps for 20.
Two balls later, Kevin Pietersen drove a return catch to Steyn for a duck and England were subsiding on 36-3.
Paul Collingwood joined forces with Alastair Cook and added 37, but he misjudged a straight, full-length delivery from Morkel to which he went onto the back foot and was plumb lbw for 19.
This brought Ian Bell to the crease, fresh from his excellent hundred in Durban but, at 73-4, to face a situation in which he has never thrived.
He was off the mark with a lovely cover drive, and patiently waited 22 balls before his next scoring stroke. With Cook, he battled away throughout the afternoon as South Africa made run-scoring very difficult.
Cook, attempting to lift the rate, pulled the fourth ball after tea from Morkel straight to Ashwell Prince at square leg for 65, but Bell continued to bat with increasing fluency, even if most of his cover drives were hit straight to the fielders.
But having done the hard work, scoring 48 in nearly three hours and with Steyn tiring and skipper Graeme Smith having to consider his options, Bell received a wide long hop from Kallis which he cut straight to JP Duminy at point.
His dismay was obvious - he could barely bring himself to drag himself away from the crease - and the pressure was firmly back on England.
Matt Prior and Stuart Broad batted busily, but judiciously, to add 51, but Broad was cleaned up by Steyn on the stroke of the second new ball to leave England 50 runs adrift.

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Sir Alex Ferguson upset by 'shocking' performance

Sir Alex Ferguson upset by 'shocking' performance

Rooney and Berbatov trudge off after Man Utd's shock defeat by Leeds

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson did not hold back in criticising his players as Manchester United were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Leeds.

Ferguson said Leeds had deserved the victory as their rivals won 1-0 in a big upset at Old Trafford.
"I didn't expect that performance, it was shocking. I've no complaints about the result," said Ferguson.
But he did complain about the lack of injury time added, describing the five minutes as "an insult to the game".
He questioned referee Chris Foy's timekeeping and stated: "That is an insult to the game and the players out there."
Earlier in the season, Ferguson was handed a four-game ban, with two of those suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season, for criticising referee Alan Wiley's fitness.
Ferguson, 67, was also fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct.
BBC Sport understands the Football Association does not anticipate punishing Ferguson for his comments after the defeat by Leeds and even if action was taken, it would have no bearing on the two-match suspended ban.
For that to happen, the Scot would have to be found guilty of a similar charge - but questioning Foy's timekeeping and criticising Wiley's fitness would not fall into the same bracket.

Under FA rules, a manager is allowed to be critical of, or disagree with, a referee's decision during his post-match interviews provided he does not imply bias, question integrity or be personal in the nature of his comments.
If Ferguson is charged with a similar offence to that relating to Wiley before the end of the 2010/11 season, the suspended two-match ban would not immediately be invoked.
He would have to be charged, have the case heard - at which point an appeal could be lodged - and learn the verdict before any further punishment can be issued.
Sunday's second half was punctuated by several petty disputes and an injury to Leeds goalscorer Jermaine Beckford and there were five substitutions before the additional time was shown.
However, Ferguson turned most of his ire on his players after Manchester United were defeated by lower league opposition for the first time since they were beaten in Bournemouth in 1984.
"Leeds deserved to win. They got breaks at times but deserved their luck - I'm disappointed," added Ferguson.
Beckford's 19th-minute goal was enough to secure Leeds a famous victory at Old Trafford - their first since 1981 - but Ferguson was frustrated at his team's overall display.
He picked a side including the likes of Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, while Nemanja Vidic was injured in the warm up. The less experienced Danny Wellbeck and Fabio da Silva were also on show.
Ferguson told MUTV: "We did speak about Beckford's pace up front.
"We were caught napping really, it was a bad goal for us to lose. The whole performance in the first half was bad. We never got going and the quality of the passing… the whole performance was just bad.
"I don't think any of the players can say they had a good day. Maybe only [substitute Antonio] Valencia, when he came on, can say that. Even then it took us about 10 minutes to get the ball to him.
"You expect us to get a goal at Old Trafford and the intensity of our game improved a little bit in the second half. We had a lot of chances in the box but on the day we didn't take them."
Vidic's pre-match injury was given short shrift by Ferguson, coming after reports that the defender is unsettled in Manchester.
"I could not tell you what the situation is with Nemanja," he said.
And Assistant manager Mike Phelan did little to clear up the nature of the injury when he added: "Nemanja said he felt there was something that wasn't right with his body. So he came in and told the manager and myself and we made the decision to change it."
Phelan admitted the defeat was a "major blow" to United's season.
"We wanted to progress in this Cup," Phelan told BBC Sport.
"We need to be in finals in Cups like this. To go out at the stage we have done is not acceptable."
Manchester United now have to dust themselves down for the Carling Cup semi-final against local rivals Manchester City on Wednesday and Ferguson suggested that many of the team that faced Leeds would pay the price for an uncharacteristic display.
"We have to get this result out of our system as quickly as possible," commented Ferguson.
"We have a semi-final on Wednesday and a lot of these players won't be playing.
"You have to view this performance in the right light. We'll make sure we're ready for Wednesday now. We had a team in mind but there will maybe be a few changes for that."

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