BIG FIGHT ...
Wladimir Klitschko defends his IBF/IBO heavyweight and WBO/WBA heavyweight super champion belts against Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev in Germany next Saturday (Eurosport 2, 8pm). Victory will make it his 17th successful title defence, putting him behind Joe Louis (25) and Larry Holmes (20), in a fight rescheduled from September, when Klitschko pulled out with an arm injury. Unbeaten and ambitious, Pulev is likely to offer a real challenge. The Bulgarian is a slow starter but carries his energy well into fights, as he proved after struggling early against Tony Thompson but winning on points after 12 rounds to earn the shot at Klitschko. This could go the distance and will likely be a far superior bout to many of the Ukrainian’s recent defences.
LAST DOWN AT WEMBLEY ...
Wembley hosts its final NFL game of the year on Sunday when Jacksonville Jaguars play Dallas Cowboys (Channel 4/Sky Sports 2 6pm). It’s the second ‘home’ game Jacksonville have played in London, having also done so last year and it was announced last week they will be back for more next year. In 2015 they will play the Buffalo Bills, who are coached by Doug Marrone, a former London Monarch. The game is followed by Seattle Seahawks, last year’s champions but who are having a mixed season thus far, taking on New York Giants (Sky Sports 2, 9pm).
TENNIS ON TV ...
Back at the O2 Arena for the sixth time in a row, this week’s ATP World Tour finals are being afforded coverage usually reserved for grand slams by broadcasters. Sue Barker is joined by Tim Henman for BBC2’s coverage from 2-5pm every day, with 5 Live Sports Extra picking up the evening sessions at 8pm. Marcus Buckland has Greg Rusedski, Mark Petchey and Annabel Croft in tow, with coverage every day on Sky Sports 3 (12.30pm/6pm).
LEAGUE CLIMAX ...
Having lost to New Zealand, England will be hoping Samoa do the business against Australia but however it turns out, it’s been a terrific Four Nations tournament and the final at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday should be a thriller (BBC2, 7.15am, highlights: BBC1, 1pm).
CRICKET AND CELLULOID ...
Graeme Swann takes up his new career behind the wheel this week at the Wales Rally GB, which runs from Friday to Sunday (details: walesrallygb.com). Swann will be driving the National Rally – the same course as the World Rally Championship but in a non-homologated car, in his case a Ford Fiesta R2. There are highlight shows on BT Sport, ITV4, and Motors TV, with the final stage in Brenig live on BT (Sunday 16 November, 1.30pm).
Off track but on film, motor racing fan Patrick Stewart narrates Journey to Le Mans (in Vue cinemas for one night only on Tuesday and out on DVD on 24 November). It’s a well-paced, well-made piece telling the story of the privateer team Jota Sport’s bid to win the world’s greatest endurance race. Stewart veers into the overtly portentous on occasion but the buildup to, and ultimate drama of, the 24 makes for an engaging picture. It’s also a fascinating insight into racing for fans who have not looked beyond F1, in the modern era bettered only by Audi’s 2008 doc Truth In 24, which has yet to be released in the UK.
