Boxing: Eastman sidelined by knee injury

A knee injury has forced Howard Eastman to withdraw from a mandatory defence of his European middleweight title. Eastman had been scheduled to meet Jorge Sendra at the Derby Storm Arena on 28 November but the bout now looks likely to be rescheduled for early next year.

Carl Froch has stepped into the breach as the bill-topping attraction, although his opponent has yet to be named. The super-middleweight, the first English fighter to claim a world senior amateur championship medal, is keen to impress at the Derby bout as it could pave the way for a challenge for the British and Commonwealth titles.