Boxing: Lennox Lewis's shift from satellite to terrestrial television is set to be confirmed at a formal announcement in London's West End today. The WBC and IBF heavyweight champion has been screened by Sky since 1992 on a fight-by-fight deal, apart from his one defeat by Oliver McCall at Wembley in September 1994, but Lewis is now on the verge of announcing his move to BBC.
It follows the contract agreed by Olympic champion Audley Harrison with BBC, to cover a minimum of 10 bouts over two years, which could be worth in the region of £1 million to Britain's first boxing gold medallist since 1968.
Lewis is poised to begin his BBC term in his next defence against Hasim Rahman on April 21st, in Las Vegas or Monaco.
The alliance between Lewis and Sky has been one of the most successful in modern-day British sport. It was launched with his British, European and Commonwealth championship victory over Derek Williams nearly nine years ago, included his triumph over Razor Ruddock which threw open the door to the world title, and 12 other world bouts.
A Sky statement last night, saying "we've enjoyed some memorable times with Lennox, most notably the two fights with Evander Holyfield and we've seen him become heavyweight champion of the world - we wish him continued success" - effectively confirmed a BBC acquisition which will be a major compensation for their Saturday night loss of Match of the Day.
BBC, with funds at their disposal, are poised to strike at the time the richest fight in history is waiting on the horizon, against Mike Tyson. For it to happen the two rival cable networks in America, Home Box Office and Showtime, have to reach agreement. Pay-per-view sales across the United States promise to be mighty for a match of that magnitude.
Meanwhile, Paul Ingle has left intensive care for a rehabilitation unit nearer his home in Scarborough. The 28-year-old has continued to make "good progress" since undergoing emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain after losing his IBF featherweight title bout against South Africa's Mbulelo Botile last month.
"Paul is being discharged to a rehabilitation centre dealing with head injuries where he can continue with his treatment," said a spokesman for the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where he has been treated.
Cricket: West Indies batsman Brian Lara has been given the chance to further his career in England - playing for a village team in Kent.
The former West Indies captain has been made an offer to play for the Lashings club, based in Maidstone, by a multi-millionaire who is based in the Caribbean, the London Evening Standard reported yesterday.
Simon Noble, head of a Caribbean-based internet betting company, has been in contact with Lara and was so confident of concluding the deal that he has registered the player's name with league officials.
Noble sponsors the Lashings club which already boasts the services of former West Indies players Richie Richardson, Stuart Williams and Junior Murray.
"It's non-pressure cricket at grass-roots level. Lara could relax and enjoy himself and have a lot of fun."
Golf: Greg Norman has urged authorities to drug test some of the world's top golfers. The Australian former world number one says it is the only way to rid the sport of doubts that some players resort to taking calming drugs such as Betablockers in the lucrative sport.
Norman said he once offered to supply a urine test after winning one of his two British Opens.
"But there's been speculation and innuendo (of drug use) since I started playing (25 years ago) so let's put an end to it.
"Let's step up to the plate and do a couple of random tests. Let's test the best players in the world, you're going to see they are going to be negative."
Motor Sport: Fabrizio Giovanardi will stand in for injured Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer this week, the Formula One team said yesterday. Ferrari's official website said Giovanardi, currently contracted to Alfa Romeo, will test last year's car tomorrow and on Friday at Vairano, northern Italy.
Badoer suffered whiplash injuries in a big crash in testing in Barcelona nine days ago and has been told to rest for at least two weeks.
Swimming: The staging of the 2002 European short-course championships in the proposed long-course championship pool at the National Sports Complex in Limerick would be a suitable baptism for the facility, write Pat Roche.
LEN, Europe's governing body, invite bids to hold the championships in December 2002. Eight lanes are essential for any world-class championships, a facility that would of course be provided by the Limerick project as opposed to what obtains at all other short-course pools in Ireland.
Urgency in appointing a full-time national coach has eased in recent weeks as the 50 metres pool for Limerick is not expected to come on stream until towards the end of next year.
The newly appointed coach, to be selected from a list of three candidates is, in accordance with present plans, likely to be installed initially on a part-time basis before eventually going full time at the Limerick complex.
The Limerick venue has already become a focal point for national squad camp training. A series of unbroken monthly sessions has been ongoing there since last year.
Of more immediate importance is next month's Leisureland international meet in the Cranny pool, Salthill. The latest additions to the array of world stars set to compete include Sweden's Olympic butterfly champion Lars Fronlander and Therese Alshammer along with Germany's world number one Sandra Volker.
