In today's news: British boxer Sandy Ryan signs with Eddie Hearn, Ashleigh Barty withdraws from Italian Open, and Carla Ward resigns from Birmingham City.

Sandy Ryan signs with Eddie Hearn

Britain's Sandy Ryan has taken one step closer to her first professional fight after signing with Matchroom Boxing, led by world famous promoter Eddie Hearn. The 27-year-old Ryan will now be training in the super-lightweight division with Clifton Mitchell and targeting world titles.

"I’m really happy to have signed with Matchroom,” Ryan said. "I’m looking forward to showing the world everything I can do. We will move at a pace to achieve my goals of becoming a multi-weight world champion.”

Ryan announced she was entering the world of professional boxing in March after she failed to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She is the reigning welterweight Commonwealth Games champion.