Undefeated Jamaican featherweight boxer Nicholas Walters returns to the ring tonight to face the Panamanian teenager Leovigildo Siris in a non-title bout at Hotel El Panama. The six-round contest will be part of a 13-fight card featuring two International Boxing Federation (IBF) regional title fights.

Boasting an unblemished ring record of 10 victories - with eight knockouts - against no defeats, Walters is a huge favourite to win against the 19-year-old Siris, who has one win against four losses and one draw.

Smith passes on

Well known local boxing promoter, Felix Smith, passed away after a long illness on Thursday, May 21, at his home with family. He was 85. The Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC) wishes to express its sympathy to the family and friends of this stalwart of the Jamaican Boxing fraternity.

"Felix Smith had been one of the stalwarts of the local boxing promotion scene who for many years, with the likes of Lucien Chen, were responsible for putting Jamaica on the map for exciting entertainment," said JBBC president, William Tavares-Finson. "The JBBC and the entire boxing fraternity wish to convey our sympathies to the family and friends of Felix and await details with respect to funeral arrangements."

Isinbayeva gets award

ROME (AP):

Russian pole vaulter and Olympic gold medallist Yelena Isinbayeva won her second Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award yesterday. Isinbayeva received the award from Laureus academy members Sir Bobby Charlton, the former Manchester United player, former France international Marcel Desailly and Italian skiing champion Alberto Tomba at a ceremony in Rome.

She was selected by the 46-member jury of the academy, which unites the world's greatest sportsmen and women.

Rawlinson comeback

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):

Two-time 400-metre hurdles world champion Jana Rawlinson has changed coaches and targeted a comeback next month in Poland, as she prepares for August's athletics World Championships in Berlin. The 26-year-old Rawlinson won the world title at Osaka, Japan, in 2007 just eight months after giving birth to her son, Cornelis, but missed the Beijing Olympics last August because of recurring foot injuries.

She is scheduled to return to competition June 10 in Poland and has entered IAAF Grand Prix meets in Monaco, London, Rome and Lausanne.

Player punched

SAO PAULO (AP):

Fans disgruntled with Fluminense's struggles invaded the team's practice on Tuesday, punching a player in the stomach and causing security guards to fire shots into the air to protect the others. About 30 fans from a Fluminense fan group entered the training grounds to protest, confronting some of the players for their disappointing results in recent matches.

The team led by former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is winless in four matches.

Jackson fined $25,000

NEW YORK (AP):

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for his public criticisms of the referees following Game Four of the NBA Western Conference finals. The Lakers organisation was also fined $25,000, the day after a 120-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets that evened the series.