Williams plans to outrun Khan
Boxing: Jackson Williams is planning to run across the United States next year. If he beats Amir Khan this month, he could be travelling there to box instead. Williams was announced yesterday as Khan’s sixth professional opponent and will face the Olympic silver medal-winner at ExCeL Arena, in London’s Docklands, on February 25.
Williams, 24, sees it as a chance to make a name for himself. “Amir’s a fantastic boxer, but this is a great opportunity for me and, hopefully, I can win,” he said.
Whether or not he is planning to run in the ring, Williams, from Norwich, who has won 12 of his 15 bouts as a professional, intends to jog across the US for charity.
Skipp quickstep
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Bowls: Glenn Skipp, a PBA qualifier from Thornaby who beat Alex Marshall in the first round, added the scalp of Les Gillett, the No 12 seed, and qualified for the quarter-finals of the WBT Welsh International Open in Llanelli yesterday. Robert Weale recovered from a slow start to beat Mark McMahon, of Australia, 3-9, 12-4, 2-0.
Morgan injury
Rugby union: Olly Morgan, the Gloucester full back, faces six weeks out with an ankle ligament injury picked up in England Under-21’s victory over Wales on Friday. Leeds Tykes have confirmed the signing of Andy Craig, the Scotland centre, from Glasgow Warriors until the end of the season. Craig could play against Bristol on Friday.
Keeping tabs
Hockey: Danny Kerry, the England head coach, has included three goalkeepers, Carolyn Reid, Beth Storry and Becky Duggan, in the 18-strong England squad for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The final party of 16 will be announced after matches in Amsterdam from February 17-19.
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Foster edges win
Rackets: Harry Foster, the world champion, survived a five-match tussle against Alex Coldicott, the rising star, to reach the quarter-finals of the Lacoste British Open Championship in edgy style. Coldicott, the British under-24 champion, went for his shots and retrieved superbly before Foster upped the pace in the decider.
Hackl raised
Olympic Games: Georg Hackl, a three-times Olympic luge gold medal-winner from Germany, has refused to be his country’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Winter Games in Turin on Friday because he wants to focus on his race the next day. The ceremony will be held about 100 kilometres from where Hackl will be racing.