BOXING: Vitali Klitschko, generally regarded as the true heavyweight champion of the world, has announced his retirement, a move likely to put control of the division back in the hands of the promoter Don King, writes John Rawling.
Klitschko made the decision following surgery in Los Angeles for a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee sustained while training for a world title contest against the former champion Hasim Rahman.
Klitschko (34), had been due to fight Rahman in Las Vegas on Saturday in a defence of the World Boxing Council (WBC) version of the title, but the Ukrainian's injury forced him to pull out for a fourth time having been sidelined earlier because of knee, back and shoulder problems.
Klitschko has a record of 35 victories and two defeats, with 34 knockouts.
His retirement leaves the heavyweight division in disarray and dominated once more by King, who has Rahman under contract as well as the International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd, the World Boxing Association titleholder John Ruiz and the holder of the World Boxing Organisation belt, Lamon Brewster.
All four are American by birth and it seems likely King will now attempt to stage a series of fights to find an undisputed champion.
In a statement, Klitschko said: "It's a hard decision to take, but I'd like to go out at the top and, with my decision, open the way for my successors."
The announcement was pre-empted by a ruling by the WBC that Klitschko would have to face Rahman within 90 days or face the ignominy of being stripped of the title. Medical advice was that it would be at least six months before he could resume training.
Guardian Service
HOCKEY: UCD (women) and the University of Ulster (men) remain on course to retain the Chilean and Mauritius Cups after both made it through to this morning's semi-finals in the intervarsity tournament in Dublin, reports Mary Hannigan.
UCD completed their pool campaign with 3-0 and 4-0 defeats of Trinity and NUIG to set up a semi-final meeting with UCC, while Queen's will play the University of Limerick, last year's beaten finalists, in the second semi-final.
In the men's competition, Cork Institute of Technology, who were only a "guest" team in last year's tournament, topped pool B after beating Trinity 2-0 and now meet UCD in the last four. Trinity, then, must play UU this morning, the team that beat them in last year's final.
Details in SPORTS ROUND-UP
MOTOR SPORT: Rally Ireland, the cross-Border World Championship bid event launched earlier this year, will run from next March 10th to 12th. The format will change to an all-tarmac surface event.
The March event will be observed by officials from the governing body of motorsport, the Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA), for possible inclusion in the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar from 2007.
The event is supported by the British and Irish Governments.
CYCLING: Eugene Moriarty and Andrew McQuaid have been riding strongly in the Powernet Tour of Southland in New Zealand, with both Irishmen impressing on yesterday's fifth leg to Crown Range, reports Shane Stokes. McQuaid went clear in a small break after just three of the day's 133km had elapsed and stayed away until 20km to go. They were reeled in by the peloton at that point, after which Moriarty took a fine eighth place on the stage.
Team MG XPower rider Aaron Strong proved strongest on the final climb, crossing the line 53 seconds clear of the next two riders. Moriarty came home 1.05 down, while the day's exertions saw McQuaid eventually finish 11.07 back in 94th place.
Moriarty is 23rd overall, 4.15 behind leader Glen Mitchell (Southland Times). McQuaid is 76th, 17.47 down. He is sixth in the king of the mountains and eighth in the sprints ranking.
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