STEVE COLLINS was back on some old, familiar territory in Cork last night to receive another belt, this time at Neptune Stadium where his brother, Paschal, was promoting the Irish middleweight title fight between Corkman Gary “Sp.ike” O’Sullivan and Ciaran Healy.

KATIE TAYLOR will launch her 2008 season in Fermoy tonight when she meets Klara Svensson of Sweden on a bill that will include eight women’s contests at the Loreto Sports Complex (7.30pm).

BOOKIE and boxing promoter Barney Eastwood has sold his chain of betting shops to Ladbrokes for €157 million.

KEVIN MCBRIDE believes he is on the brink of clinching a deal to face WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz. McBride shocked the boxing world when he beat Mike Tyson - prompting the former undisputed world champion to retire in June.

A doorman guarding a republican social function at the Widow Scallan’s pub in Dublin was shot dead while trying to fend off a loyalist bomb attack, an inquest heard today.