MOTOR SPORT/World Rally Championship:Sébastien Loeb sealed a record fifth Monte Carlo victory yesterday after dominating the opening world championship rally.
Frenchman Loeb, starting his quest for an unprecedented fifth world title, was in control in his Citroën from the opening timed stage on Thursday.
Ford's Mikko Hirvonen of Finland, who struggled to follow the pace set by Loeb on mostly dry asphalt roads, finished a distant second overall, two minutes 34 seconds back. Subaru driver Chris Atkinson of Australia won a close battle with Stobart-Ford's Francois Duval of Belgium for third place.
Duval started the last timed stage, a short sprint around the harbour section of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, just 1.1 seconds behind Atkinson.
The pair set the same time through that last section, which enabled Atkinson to clinch his first podium finish since he came third in Japan in 2005.
Loeb's team-mate Dani Sordo of Spain was second overall when he retired with an engine problem on Saturday.
RUGBY:London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith is certain scrumhalf Paul Hodgson will be fit for duty with England after he was injured in the 26-24 victory at English Premiership strugglers Leeds.
Hodgson, who has been called into Brian Ashton's Six Nations squad, was taken off as a precaution at half-time after his leg swelled following a stamp.
He was replaced by Warren Fury, and Smith is confident Hodgson will meet up with Ashton's squad.
"Paul took a blow to his leg and it tightened up a little bit, but he'll be fine to front up with England on Monday, there's no problem there," Smith said.
"The fact that Mike Bundy, our club doctor, also works for the RFU (Rugby Football Union) meant he was quite anxious to get him off.
"From our perspective, we want to look after him because he's got international aspirations and Warren Fury is a very talented scrumhalf as well.
"When one bloke steps aside, we expected another one to step up and that gave Warren a chance to do that."
BOXING:Bill Walsh edged out Belfast's James Gorman to maintain his unbeaten run and lay claim to the vacant Irish welterweight title following a 10-round thriller at the Neptune Stadium in Cork on Saturday.
The Boston-based Corkman, undefeated in four going into the clash, earned a 96-95 win against Gorman, who forced his opponent onto the ropes in the final seconds before the bell for the end of the final round.
Walsh will now challenge for a Massachusetts title in Boston on March 15th, but he is not ruling out a rematch with Gorman following the weekend's thriller.
Meanwhile, Cuba-born Mike Perez chalked up a first-round professional debut victory against Jevgenijs Stamburski on the undercard.
Perez (22) dropped the Latvian twice inside two minutes before the fight was stopped. Perez will now fight on the Andy Lee undercard at the University of Limerick next Saturday.
Welterweight Gary O'Sullivan, who was also making his pro debut, Patrick Hyland, Jonathan O'Brien and Scott Belshaw also won on Saturday night.
Alexander Povetkin clinched a unanimous points decision over the previously unbeaten Eddie Chambers in Berlin on Saturday to become the next mandatory challenger to IBF heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko.
During 12 action-filled rounds just a few miles from Checkpoint Charlie, the Russian star threw - and landed - more punches than his American opponent.
His dominance was mirrored by the scorecards, the judges ruling it 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112 in favour of the 2004 Olympic gold medallist.
Povetkin can now start to look forward to a possible clash against Klitschko.
He said: "I haven't had any time to think about it. It would be a huge honour to fight him.
"The only thing I know is that I will be prepared even better. I have been bothered by a few colds during the preparation but will never step in the ring again when I am not 100 per cent fit."
England's Colin Lynes came through the first defence of his European light-welterweight title with a points victory over Finland's Juho Tolppola in Dagenham late on Friday night.
