Hatton looks on in title bout
Boxing: Ricky Hatton will be an interested spectator at ringside in Atlantic City tonight when Floyd Mayweather Jr challenges Arturo Gatti for the WBC light-welterweight title. Hatton, who won the IBF title from Kostya Tszyu this month, could face the winner and has taken the opportunity to meet the American media by doing a string of television and press interviews.
Mayweather, a former WBC champion at lightweight and super-featherweight, is seeking to become a triple weight world champion. “I’d like Gatti to win but I think that Mayweather might have just a little bit too much for him, a little too much up his sleeve,” Hatton said. “But Mayweather isn’t the biggest of light-welterweights and Arturo can punch a fair bit.”
Loeb in control
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Motor rallying: Sébastien Loeb took control of the Acropolis Rally and put himself on course for a fifth consecutive victory. The world champion led overnight after winning the special stage around the Olympic Stadium in Athens but he soon lost out as Marcus Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen took turns at the top of the leaderboard. Citroën’s superiority began to tell again and Loeb won the final stage of the day.
Devon surprised
Motor racing: This season’s British Grand Prix will be a sell-out on race day, Silverstone organisers have confirmed. Despite the uncertainty over the winter whether the race would be staged, sales have held up well and the July 10 race will be watched by 100,000 fans.
Full house
Bowls: Devon, who have won the Walker Cup four times, were knocked out of the English women’s inter-county Two Fours championship by the Isle of Wight, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1970, when the county association was formed, with an unexpected 44-33 victory over a star-studded Devon side.
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Fightback in vain
Lacrosse: England’s women were beaten 13-5 by the United States in their opening match of the World Championship in Annapolis, Maryland, although they fought back from 7-0 in the second half. Katy Bennett and Felicity Hermsen scored two goals each for England.
Fahey survives
Real tennis: Robert Fahey, the world champion, had a narrow escape against Steve Virgona in their group match at the prestigious VetCell World Tournament at Moreton Morrell Club. Virgona was leading at 5-4 in the second set but Fahey held on to win in straight sets.