Boxing: Close windfall for Eubank

CHRIS EUBANK is set to stretch his earnings to pounds 2.4m in the space of nine months. The World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight champion yesterday was guaranteed pounds 861,000 for his re- match against Ray Close, of Ulster, in Belfast this summer.

This purse, the largest of his career, follows the pounds 800,000 he earned for his second fight with Nigel Benn and the pounds 700,000 for his defence against Graciano Rocchigiani in Berlin early this month. A bid of pounds 1,148,640 submitted by Don King, Frank Warren and Barney Eastwood guaranteed Close home advantage and pounds 287,000.

Benn, the World Boxing Council champion, may be looking at pounds 2m for a unification fight against Michael Nunn, who holds the World Boxing Association title, in London in the summer, according to Warren. First, though, he must overcome Henry Wharton at Earl's Court on Saturday.