Global Sport

The 39-year-old Douglas is one of three men being considered as an opponent for the 33-year-old Tyson’s next comeback on October 2 in Las Vegas.

Since Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by Douglas, a 42-1 shot on February 11, 1990, he has regained and lost pieces of the title (WBC and WBA), served two prison terms and had his license revoked for biting Evander Holyfield’s ears in their title rematch on June 28, 1998. In his only fight since he got his license back, he knocked out Francois Botha in the fifth round January 16.

Prince says Espinosa is scared

KUALA LUMPUR: Featherweight champion `Prince’ Naseem Hamed of Britain said he believed Filipino Luisito Espinosa was afraid to fight him because he might lose his World Boxing Council crown.

Hamed, due to defend his World BoxingOrganisation featherweight title against a yet-to-be-named contender in November, said he has offered to fight Espinosa five times.

“But he keeps refusing,” Hamed told reporters after flying in to the Malaysian capital, where he will do a one-night promotion of his boxing skills on Saturday.

Warne expects no Lankan backlash

MELBOURNE: Describing his verbal bashing of Arjuna Ranatunga as a bit of fun, Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne said he does not fear touring Sri Lanka next month.

Warne’s frosty relationship with Ranatunga froze completely before the recent World Cup when the Australian declared cricket would be better off without the former Sri Lankan captain.

Muralitharan may stay with Lancs

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan may stay with English county Lancashire for the next season following his superb performance this year, a state-run newspaper said.

But he may not be able to spend the entire summer season because of his commitment backhome.

Maurice promises to paint Britain Greene

LONDON: Maurice Greene, world record holder at 100 metres, breezed into London promising to deliver the first sub-10 seconds 100 on British soil.

Greene, who turns 25 on Friday, clocked 9.79 in Athens last month to break the world record of 9.84s set by Canadian Donovan Bailey in 1996.

British govt plea to United

LONDON: The British government has issued an appeal to Manchester United and the English Football Association (FA) to try to find a way round the club’s fixture logjam so they can play in the FA Cup.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey, who speaks for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in the Lords, the upper house of the British parliament, said he hoped the club could compete in both the Cup as well as the World Club Championship in Brazil.

Anelka’s popularity dips in England

LONDON: French striker Nicolas Anelka is the most unpopular foreign import in British soccer, according to fans who voted in a tabloid newspapersurvey.

Anelka, who threatened legal action if his planned move from Arsenal to Italian Serie A team Lazio doesn’t go ahead, has infuriated Gunners fans during the protracted dispute.

The 20-year-old French international has three years to run on his contract at Highbury but has said he doesn’t want to return to London.

Libya-Perugia tie stopped for brawling

PERUGIA: Referees halted an exhibition soccer match on Thursday between Libya’s national team, which includes a son of libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, and an Italian major league team when both sides started brawling.

Players on the field as well as comrades on the benches joined into the fighting between the North African country’s squad and Serie A team Perugia.

Italian state TV showed players shoving and chasing after each other around on the field and throwing punches. One Libyan player waved a Libyan flag as he ran after opponents.

Hill fastest in the rain

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA: Damon Hill, who considered quitting the sportearlier this month, recorded the fastest time in Friday’s rain-soaked opening practice sessions for the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Briton grabbed first place in his Jordan with just seconds left in the session having gone off the Zeltweg circuit five times during the day.

Istanbul readies for Olympic bid

ISTANBUL: Istanbul came one step closer to announcing another bid for the Olympic Games, with sports officials saying the 24th European Swimming Championship was a step in that direction.

As folk groups danced, local Olympic and government officials said the 11-day championship would show Turkey can organise large international events.