MEN’S BOXING: Newquay-born Brad Pauls faces Denzel Bentley for the British, European and WBO International middleweight belts at Wembley on Saturday night. Pauls, who has lost once in 20 professional fights, became Cornwall’s first British boxing champion since 1939 when he knocked out Nathan Heaney to claim the title in July. Londoner Bentley currently holds the WBO International belt with a record of three losses in 24 bouts.

WOMEN’S CRICKET: Megan Shutt bagged 5-19 as Australia thumped India by eight wickets to win the first of their three-match one-day series in Brisbane on Thursday. After bowling out the Indians for 100 debutant Georgia Voll hit an unbeaten 46 to lead the Aussies home. The second game starts on Saturday night. Leah Paul smashed 79 not out as Ireland beat Bangladesh by 12 runs in their opening Twenty20 match in Sylhet.

MEN’S CYCLING: 40-year-old Yukiya Arishiro has prolonged his career by signing with Italian-based Toscana Factory Vini Fantini team. The three-time Japanese road champion left Bahrain-Victorious at the end of last season after completing 16 grand tours and 14 monument classic races with wins at the Tours of Taiwan and Limousin. In 2005, along with Fumiyuki Beppu he became the first Japanese cyclist to finish the Tour de France.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Club World Cup holders Manchester City have been drawn with Juventus, Morocco’s Wydad and Abu Dhabi-based Al Ain in the inaugural group stages of next summer’s competition in the USA. Chelsea will face Brazil’s Flamengo, ES Tunis and Mexico’s Club Leon. Both English teams will be satisfied at avoiding Group B which includes Paris St-Germain, Athletico Madrid, current Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and the Seattle Sounders.