CRICKET: Brian Lara predicted his West Indies team will put up a stirring battle to upset the odds in today's Triangular Series final against in-form New Zealand at Lord's.
Lara has no qualms about New Zealand's right to be considered favourites - but he is adamant his young side are ready to make Stephen Fleming and Co fight all the way.
New Zealand approach the final on an eight-match winning streak and easily beat the Windies at Cardiff last weekend on their way to topping the table.
West Indies, meanwhile, have shown improved form of late themselves - drawing a home series against England in the spring, beating Bangladesh and providing the sternest opposition available for New Zealand over the past two weeks.
"New Zealand have an advantage in terms of experience and should go into this final as favourites," Lara conceded.
"But we have the opportunity for the first time for a long time to win a one-day trophy away from home - and we will make sure we do everything we can tomorrow to try to do that."
New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns singled out a lack of depth in the Windies' bowling attack as the most obvious weakness in Lara's ranks.
The likes of Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith took a conspicuous hammering at Lord's on Tuesday when England centurions Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss bludgeoned 12 runs for each of the last 10 overs.
"Those guys have to improve, and Bravo understands he needs to do better," said Lara.
BOXING: Promoter Frank Warren remains "hopeful" of staging a showdown between Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison and British heavyweight champion Matt Skelton this autumn.
Skelton, 37, claimed the Lonsdale Belt and the Commonwealth title with a 12th-round knockout of Michael Sprott in April.
Harrison, 32, took his pro record to 17-0 when beating the previously undefeated Tomasz Bonin in London last month, in his last fight for the BBC.
Warren said: "I would like to do that fight in September. "We've been talking to Audley, we've been talking to Hazel (Bruno-Gilbert), his business adviser, we've had meetings with his lawyer.
"It's all about money, like it's always about money. It's also about being realistic, and hopefully I think we've got a good chance of making the fight."
Warren is also keen to set up a clash between Britain's top two cruiserweights, Sheffield veteran Johnny Nelson and rising Welsh fighter Enzo Maccarinelli.
Long-reigning WBO champion Nelson, 37, has pledged to hang up his gloves at Christmas and feels 23-year-old WBU title holder Maccarinelli is not yet ready to step up in class.
However, Warren said: "I want to make Enzo Maccarinelli and Johnny Nelson. I know Johnny says he doesn't want to do that but I want them both to fight each other and I think it's a good fight."
