SPORTS DIGEST/Boxing: Mike Tyson will be free to concentrate on his preparations for a long-awaited world heavyweight showdown with Lennox Lewis after it emerged the American will not be charged with sexual assault in Las Vegas.
Police had sought arrest warrants for Tyson after they began investigating him in mid-September when a Las Vegas woman went to hospital with injuries after visiting his home. A second woman went to police at the end of December and reported she had been attacked at Tyson's home in November 2000.
Prosecutors reviewed the evidence and revealed there was "no possibility whatsoever" to prosecute Tyson as it was unclear whether the sexual interaction between each of the two alleged victims and the boxer was consensual or forced.
BOXING: Belfast's Martin Lindsay caused the big surprise of the National Senior Championships at the National Stadium last night when his vibrancy proved too much for reigning bantamweight champion Damian Mckenna of Drogheda, writes Pat Roche.
Lindsey (20), brought the packed house to its feet as he forced the pace from the first bell. Afterwards, he said "I thought youth was a factor". But Lindsey was not doing himself justice by this summary for he outboxed the champion throughout the four rounds.
Liam Cunningham, the Belfast flyweight and the most experienced competitor in the finals, produced an immature final round that went close to costing him his fifth title.
His opponent Darren Campbell of St Saviours did well to overcome a disadvantage in reach; but Cunningham fell into the trap of keeping up the pressure in the final session when there was no need to do so.
Cunningham, a 13-7 winner, picked up two cautions for holding and the inevitable public warning for the same misdemeanour in the final round.
Details in Sports Round-up.
ROWING: Scotsman Hamish Burrell (36), who has been appointed chief coach by the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, said last night that he expects to relocate to the National Rowing Centre in Cork in April and expects his protege, Sinéad Jennings to also move from Edinburgh. The appointment is until 20004.
Burrell is best known as the coach of lightweight single sculler Jennings, who progressed from beginner to world champion under his tutelage. Fiola Foley and Heather Boyle have also been training with Burrell in Edinburgh as part of a strategy to create a lightweight double scull for the Athens Olympics, and are set to return to Ireland.
Burrell's position will involve coaching the lightweight men's crews, but he says he does not intend to be "heavy-handed" in interfering in present coaching relationships. When crews are formed for the Olympics, the coaching situation will be different.The rowing centre at Innicarra was due to stage the Cork head of the river tomorrow, but strong winds have forced the event's postponement for a week.
HOCKEY: Munster and Ulster repeated their 1-1 draw of earlier in the season in the interprovincial championship at Grange Road last night.
Dave Eakins swept Munster into an early lead but Ulster settled down strongly and equalised before half-time through Andy Barbour from a shot corner rebound.
Earlier, a first half goal by David Bane gave Leinster a modest 1-0 win over the sprightly Shamrocks in their tune-up game.
