Sports Digest: Canadian Part separates Taylor from his crown

DARTS: Canada's John Part ended Phil Taylor's eight-year unbeaten run at the Circus Tavern last night as he was crowned the 2003 Ladbrokes.com World Champion in Purfleet.

The world number two slumped to a 7-0 defeat to Taylor in 2001, and also finished runner-up to the 10-time world champion at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix last year.

However, he finally overcame the sport's greatest-ever player with a nail-biting 7-6 success.

Part raced into a 3-0 lead and also led 4-1 earlier in the contest, but Taylor - like a true champion - fought back and the game was in the balance at 6-6.

Part opened up a two-leg lead in the deciding set before Taylor pulled one back with a shot at double 12.

But the former Embassy world champion could not be denied and nailed double top for a famous win.

BOXING: Dublin featherweight Bernard Dunne revived his professional career in an impressive manner in the early hours of Saturday morning when he knocked out Simon Ramirez after just one minute and nine seconds, writes Johnny Watterson.

The 22-year-old was back in the ring at the Thunderbrid Wild West Casino in Oklahoma just two-and-a-half months after failing a brain scan in Buffalo before what was to be his third professional fight under promoter Sugar Ray Leonard and Irish manager Brian Peters.

Dunne delivered a double left hook to the body and head to send the 19-year-old hometown fighter to the canvas for the full count less than half way through the scheduled four-round contest despite the American opening well in the bout, screened by ESPN.

Dunne, who was handed back his licence by the New York State Athletic Commission just before Christmas, hopes to continue his rise to the top of the division when he fights in Miami on February 7th against an as yet unnamed opponent.

RALLYING: France's Stephane Peterhansel consolidated his Dakar Rally lead yesterday by winning the first stage in Africa after the long overnight ferry crossing from Spain to Tunisia.

Peterhansel, driving a Mitsubishi after winning the motorcycle title six times, clocked 18 minutes 26 seconds over the winding, 25-kilometre fourth special stage through pine forests between Tunis and Tozeur.

Belgian Gregoire de Mevius, in a BMW, was second on the stage, 22 seconds behind, with Finland's former winner Ari Vatanen third at the wheel of a Nissan as the drivers fired up their engines after 36 hours at sea.

Peterhansel extended his overall lead to one minute and 23 seconds ahead of South African Giniel de Villiers, in a Nissan.

TENNIS: Romance and almost a year off have recharged Lindsay Davenport and she is ready once more to challenge the Williams sisters for international supremacy.

The former world number one, in her first match back since missing almost nine months recovering from knee surgery, trounced Australian Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-3 in yesterday's first round of the Sydney International tournament.

The 26-year-old Californian has taken on former doubles specialist Rick Leach as coach, having become engaged to his brother Jon.

Pratt's defeat and Evie Dominikovic's 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 loss to Russian Tatiana Panova removed all Australian representation from the women's draw on the opening day of the mixed tournament.