Lewis pulls out of rematch
Boxing: Lennox Lewis, the world heavyweight champion, has pulled out of a rematch with Vitali Klitschko on December 6 and will not fight again this year, the Ukrainian said last night.
The December date was tentatively set for a rematch, after their June 21 fight in Los Angeles that ended with Lewis scoring a sixth-round technical knockout victory over Klitschko.
But Klaus-Peter Kohl, chief executive for Universum, Klitschko’s promoters, said Lewis had informed them he had no plans to fight again this year. “(This has) caught me off guard,” Klitschko said.
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Hislop tribute
Motorcycling: John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama, the Rizla Suzuki superbike riders, will wear black armbands for Sunday’s race at Oulton Park in memory of Steve Hislop, the British champion, who died in a helicopter crash last week. Paul Denning, of Rizla Suzuki, said: “Steve was one of the most popular and fastest racers we have ever had the pleasure to know.”
ONCE withdraws
Cycling: ONCE, the national organisation for the blind in Spain and a leading sponsor in the sport, said yesterday that it would be withdrawing its support at the end of the season. The ONCE-Eroski team has twice been a winner of the team prize in the Tour de France. Eroski, a supermarket chain, has also announced its intention to end its involvement.
Lomu pledge
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Rugby union: Jonah Lomu, the New Zealand wing, is expected to return to training with Wellington, his club side, tomorrow after two months of dialysis treatment for a kidney condition. The 28-year-old has suffered from the problem for several years but said that he would play in the World Cup this year even if it cost him his life.
Harrison blow
Boxing: Audley Harrison has withdrawn from his heavyweight bout against Colin Wilson, of Australia, after the main contest on the card in Sydney tomorrow, the WBA super-middleweight match between Anthony Mundine, of Australia, and Antwun Echols, of the United States, was postponed.
Britain miss out
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Speedway: Great Britain lost out on a place in the final of the World Cup by two points after a thrilling battle with Australia in Outrup, Denmark last night. Australia won a place in the final when they finished with 62 points, two ahead of Britain. Slovenia were third and Italy fourth.
Munro second
Orienteering: Heather Munro finished second in her long-distance heat at the World Championships in Switzerland yesterday. All six British runners won through at Zugerberg, where steep valleys, brambles and temperatures in excess of 30C made it tough going.
Haase Signs
Basketball: Birmingham Bullets have signed Antony Haase, the Nottingham-born youngster, for the new season. Haase, who is 6ft 6in, has experience from the United States, where he played for West Hampton High School, New York, and Missouri Baptist University.
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Boocock for Hull
Speedway: Eric Boocock has been confirmed as caretaker manager of Hull Vikings for the rest of the season. Boocock, who is track curator at Somerset Rebels and will not be available for all meets, replaces John Bailey, who left the club last week after poor results.