Sport in Short: Boxing

NIGEL BENN'S first World Boxing Council super-middleweight title defence against Cardiff's Nicky Piper at Alexandra Palace on Saturday week will have all-British officials. Benn won the title in Rome two months ago when Italy's Mauro Galvano retired at the end of the third round after sustaining a cut left eye.

ENGLAND v IRELAND AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL (Liverpool) (Eng names first): Flyweight: P Ingle (Scarborough) bt D Kelly (Holy Trinity) rsf 2nd. Featherweight: T Mulholland (Transport) lost to P Ireland (St Malachys) rsf 2nd. Welterweight: M Santini (Birmingham City) bt J McCormack (St Saviours) pts; P Burns (Gemini) lost to E Fisher (Holy Trinity) pts; P Richardson (Phil Thomas ABC) bt M McBride (Edenderry) pts. Light-middleweight: R Reid (Warrington) bt N Reid (Donore) ret 2nd. Middleweight: J Matthews (Crown and Manor) lost to D Galvin (Moate) pts; J Branch (Repton) lost D Ryan (Raphoe) pts. Light-heavyweight: K Oliver (Bracebridge) bt M Delaney (Holy Trinity) pts. Heavyweight: P Lawson (Repton) bt P Douglas (Holy Family) pts. Super-heavyweight: D Holness (St Pancras) lost to G Douglas (Oliver Plunkett) pts. Match result: England 6 Ireland 5.