Boxing: Harrison eyes title fight after release from jail

World Boxing Organisation featherweight champion Scott Harrison has been handed a lifeline that could see him finally defend his title against Nicky Cook at the Excel centre in London on 9 December.

The Scottish two-time world champion has been in a Malaga jail since 6 October on alleged assault charges but has been granted bail and returns to Glasgow today. Promoter Frank Warren withdrew the Harrison-Cook title fight earlier this week but will now hold talks with the WBO about re-instating the fight.

Meanwhile, Wladimir Klitschko defends his International Boxing Federation heavyweight title for the first time against the unbeaten American Calvin Brock at Madison Square Garden in New York tonight and is extremely unlikely to lose.

Klitschko, 30, is arguably the best active heavyweight in the world but shocking stoppages in 2003 and 2004 against fighters he was expected to beat easily ruined his reputation.

Brock, 31, has been matched with precision and care in his five-year career and overcame his one and only test back in June when he outpointed Timor Ibragimov to set up the fight with Klitschko. Tonight will be Klitschko's ninth world heavyweight title contest ­ he was WBO champion between 2000 and 2003.

Sheffield's Esham Pickering travels to Dublin's The Point to meet local idol Bernard Dunne for the vacant European super-bantamweight title tonight in front of a 7,000 sell-out.

At Hartlepool Borough Hall last night, local fighter Michael Hunter was stopped in five rounds by brilliant Canadian Steve Molitor for the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight title.