MEN’S BOXING: Uzbekistan’s Bektemir Melikuziev earned a narrow unanimous points decision over Darius Fulghum in Las Vegas to become mandatory challenger for the WBA super-middleweight title. 

While Fulghum suffered a first defeat in 15 bouts, Melikuziev improved his record to 16 wins from 17 fights. 

In Guadalajara, Murodjon Akhmadaliev stopped Luis Castillo in the eighth round to set up a super-bantamweight unification title fight with Japan’s Naoya Inoue.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Pascal Siakam top-scored with 31 points as the Indiana Pacers brushed aside New York Knicks 125-108 this morning to seal a 4-2 series victory and reach the NBA finals for the first time in 25 years. 

The Pacers will meet Oklahoma City for the Larry O’Brien trophy, which neither team has previously won, with the first leg of their best of seven series tipping off on Friday morning.

MEN’S CRICKET: Scotland can improve their chances of World Cup qualification when they begin a three-match 50 over series against League Two bottom club Nepal in Dundee on Monday. 

The Scots are eight points behind league leaders USA with four games in hand but did lose to Nepal by five wickets back in October. Scotland and Nepal will also face second-placed Netherlands after their series ends.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: With the scores at 28-28 after extra time, the Durban-based Sharks beat Munster in a penalty shoot-out to set up a United Rugby Championship semi-final against Pretoria’s Bulls, who beat Edinburgh 42-33. 

Defending champions Glasgow will face regular season table-toppers Leinster in the other last four clash after the Scots saw off Cape Town’s Stormers 38-16 and Leinster beat the Scarlets 33-21 in their quarter-finals.