Sporting digest: boxing

Scott Welch, who fights Axel Schulz of Germany for the European heavyweight title in Leipzig on 22 August, has appointed Steve Collins, the former World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight champion, as his new trainer. Welch, the former British champion from Shoreham in West Sussex, has made the switch following an approach by Collins and the Dubliner will now take charge of Welch's preparations for the twice-postponed bout.

Bruce Seldon, the former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, was sentenced yesterday to five years' probation plus 364 days in jail for smoking marijuana with a 15-year-old girl and taking part in "sexual activity" with her last year.

Julio Cesar Chavez beat the American, Ken Sigurani, in the third round in Conneticut on Thursday to keep his scheduled September rematch with Oscar De La Hoya, the World Boxing Council welterweight champion, in Las Vegas.

James "Buster" Douglas, the former heavyweight champion, suffered a first- round defeat to Lou Savarese in a 12-round non-title bout, also in Conneticut. With the defeat went the 38-year-old's hopes of another title fight, possibly a rematch with Mike Tyson.

Richie Woodhall's first defence of his World Boxing Council super-middleweight title will be on home soil after Don King, the promoter, failed to arrange the fight. King won the initial purse bid for the bout between Woodhall, from Telford, and Italian Vincenzo Nardiello but he did not follow up with the contracts, venue or cash. The fight was originally due to take place on 25 July but the new date and venue, set to be in the west midlands, will be announced next week.