Boxing : Fighting talk from Hamed's next opponent

Boxing

Naseem Hamed has been promised a do-or-die effort by the next man to try to curb his extravagant skills.

The Colombian Juan Polo Perez admits to a healthy respect for Hamed, who defends his World Council international super-bantamweight title at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday.

"I will win or lose by a knock-out. My plan is to make him run for three rounds and finish him in the fourth," Perez said.

Perez has 36 victories from 50 fights and bears none of the scars usually associated with a 13-year high-level career. But he has lost his last two bouts on points this year, and Hamed sees no threat to his own world title ambitions.

"You have to give him credit," said Hamed, who relishes his top-of-the- bill position in his 19th contest. "But I cannot contemplate defeat. I'm punching so hard that I can't see it going the distance."

n Oscar de La Hoya will be stripped of the International Federation lightweight championship if he does not fight the No 1 contender, Miguel Julio of Colombia, in a mandatory defence by 31 July, the IBF said yesterday.

n Steve Collins' reign as World Organisation super-middleweight champion came under threat yesterday. The WBO have, according to the promoter Barry Hearn, warned that the Irishman's rematch with Chris Eubank must take place before 9 September or Collins could be stripped of his title.