Michael Watson won a historic legal battle yesterday but his £1 million damages claim against the British Boxing Board of Control is set to throw the sport into turmoil.
After Mr Justice Ian Kennedy ruled at the High Court in London that the Board was liable for the boxer's brain damage incurred in a September 1991 world championship bout against Chris Eubank, BBBC's QC, Ronald Walker, said it was a "landmark decision".
"It is the first case in which a regulatory authority has been held liable for the negligent failure to regulate, resulting in damages."
But 34-year-old Watson's hopes of securing compensation for the loss of his health and career could be threatened by the revelation that the Board was uninsured against liability to its members. The Board's general secretary, John Morris, would not comment on the suggestion that its finances were in a bad way.
He said that the Board would pursue an appeal even though the judge refused leave yesterday.
Watson, who will need life-long care, had sued the Board over events at the end of a super middleweight contest at White Hart Lane, north London. The fighter had emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. The judge held that Watson was entitled to recover damages from the Board on the footing that he would have made a good recovery if the proper protocol had been in place. Gaelic Games: Pat Holmes has emerged within the county as favourite to succeed John Maughan as manager of Mayo footballers, writes Sean Moran. Although the selection process is said to be `ongoing', local speculation suggests that Holmes will be recommended to the county board next week.
Holmes was a significant figure in Mayo's two All-Ireland runs under Maughan in 1996 and '97.
Rugby: An unprecedented 15 players from every competing squad of 30 in the 20 country World Cup will undergo a pre-tournament drugs test. In addition, two players from each team will be tested in each of the 41 matches, bringing a grand total of 464 tests.
Including the qualifying rounds which started in September 1996, more than 600 tests will be carried out at a cost of u £130,000. IRB regulations are based on the International Olympic Committee prohibitions and guidelines, including the IOC list of banned substances and sanctions in the event of a positive test.
No positive test has been recorded so far in a rugby World Cup match, either in the qualifying rounds or finals.
Snooker: The turbulent chairmanship of Rex Williams ended yesterday when he presented his resignation to the president of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, Jeffrey Archer, who has temporarily taken the helm.
He has recommended to the board the appointment of Mark Gay as company solicitor and Gerry Boon of Deloitte Touche in implementing Steve Davis's call for a "forensic audit" of the governing body.
Archer promised that all aspects of the accounts would be examined and nothing hidden. Martin Blake, the company secretary, has been relieved of his responsibilities, while Peter Middleton, who was dismissed six weeks ago by a 4-3 boardroom decision, has been invited to resume as chief executive.
Rowing: Noel Monahan, who stroked the quadruple scull which won bronze for Ireland at last month's World Championships, has confirmed his entry for tomorrow's Guinness Cork Sculling Ladder time trial in Cork city. Monahan won the men's championship last year, and women's winner Alison Downey will also compete this year. The race starts at 9 a.m. at the marina, and is scheduled to finish at 1 p.m.
Golf: Overnight leader Des Smyth carded a one-under-par 71 yesterday for a superb eight-under-par 136 to win the 12,000 36-holes Bank of Ireland pro-am at Powerscourt. Smyth got the worst of the weather as he played in the pouring afternoon rain but still managed to top the leaderboard.
