Police investigate claim of De la Hoya sexual assault

Boxing: Former world welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya has been accused of attempted rape after a party at the fighter's home, according to a CBS television report.

But the boxer's lawyer, Robert Chapman, branded the claim as "false" in a written statement to the same channel, maintaining De la Hoya had phoned police on the morning of December 26th to ask for help after three people had caused an incident in his home.

The police confirmed they were investigating the affair but said they had not yet spoken to De la Hoya (26), who lost his WBC and IBF belts in September to unbeaten Felix Trinidad.

Golf: Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley will play in the US Masters at Augusta next April. The 18-year-old from Melbourne received the official letter from the Masters committee yesterday. The Australian teenager will play two US tour events - the Honda Classic and Bay Hill Invitational in Florida in March - before the Masters. He is also hoping for invitations to the British Open and the US Open. Baddeley became the first amateur in 39 years and the youngest in history to win the Australian Golf Open at Royal Sydney last month.

Boxing: The proposed clash between the daughters of heavyweight legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier could take place in China next year. Laili Ali has committed herself to fighting in her fourth professional bout in China in April, and one of the possible opponents is Jacqui Frazier Lyde.

"We have three opponents in mind, including Joe Frazier's daughter," said Niu Lixing, the president of Great-Wall International Sports Media Company, which has signed up Ali to fight in China.

Soccer: Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has bought Copenhagen soccer club Hvidovre, where he made his debut in 1984.

No price for the deal, announced yesterday, was given by the club, but it confirmed Schmeichel had bought a 100 per cent shareholding and that Swedish telecoms carrier Telia would act as Hvidovre's main sponsor.

Hvidovre play in Denmark's first division, immediately below the country's top flight, the super league.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Schmeichel was Hvidovre's goalkeeper for two seasons from 1984-86, playing 94 matches as a semi-professional and scoring seven penalty goals for the suburban Copenhagen team.

Schmeichel (36), signed a two-year contract with Portugal's Sporting Lisbon last June after ending an eight-year career with Manchester United.