China's Liu Wenbo will challenge South Korea's military-trained Yang Hae-jun for the Asia-Pacific middleweight championship in one of tonight's highlight bouts in the Legend 10 mixed martial arts championship at AsiaWorld Expo. The 29-year-old has a background in boxing and Brazilian ju-jitsu, with a 7-5 MMA record, and will be taking on the tough South Korean (7-3), who completed his military duties in 2010, enabling him to fight overseas. Other highlights in tonight's championships see "Ruthless" Rob Lisita challenging Japan's Yusuke Kawanago for the Asia-Pacific featherweight championship. A total of 20 fighters from the Asia-Pacific region feature in tonight's bouts. Unus Alladin
Organisers have confirmed that top-ranked Rory McIlroy will defend his Shanghai Masters title this year. The US$7-million gold tournament has been added to this year's European Tour schedule after McIlroy won it last year from a field of 21 players. This year's tournament, the richest in the history of the European Tour, will be held from October 25 to 28 and again be staged at the Lake Malaren Golf Club. McIlroy said: "I cannot wait to get back to Shanghai. The fact that I can tee up there again as a reigning major winner means a lot to me." The field of 78 players will be drawn mostly from the top 100 in the world rankings. AP
New Zealander Warren Gatland has revealed he expects to coach the British and Irish Lions' tour of Hong Kong and Australia in 2013, forcing him to set aside his Six Nations duties with Wales next year. Gatland, who is in New Zealand recuperating from a fall, said he was poised to sign a deal with the Lions for the tour, which will take place from June 1 to July 6. "We still haven't signed anything yet but it's very close, and if I do take the position, I'll be seconded to the Lions for 10 months," he said. The 10-match tour begins with a clash against the Barbarians in Hong Kong, before moving to Australia, where there will be tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. AFP
