Boxing: Hamed holds key to Lewis-Hide fight

HERBIE HIDE may get his dream wish to fight Lennox Lewis granted - provided Naseem Hamed agrees to a world title bout with the new European featherweight champion, Paul Ingle, on the same bill.

The proposal was made yesterday by Frank Maloney, the manager of Lewis and Ingle, who said he would "consider" any plan along those lines put forward by Frank Warren, who promotes Hamed and Hide.

Warren called for Lewis, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, to put his title on the line in an all-British meeting after Hide, the World Boxing Organisation holder, disposed of Germany's Willi Fischer in two rounds in Norwich on Saturday.

Maloney believes Lewis against Hide would be attractive to his American network paymasters Home Box Office if Hamed-Ingle was part of the package. It would make an interesting homecoming for Lewis, who has not fought in Britain since his only defeat in two rounds by Oliver McCall at Wembley Arena four years ago.

"We would consider Lewis-Hide as long as Frank Warren would consider a joint top-of-the- bill with Hamed and Ingle. It would be one hell of a night for British boxing," Maloney said.

Ingle stopped Sunderland's Billy Hardy in eight rounds to win the European nine stone title in York last weekend and his first defence of the European Boxing Union title could be against Cardiff's former WBO champion Steve Robinson, who fights South Africa's Welcome Ncita for the International Boxing Organisation intercontinental title in East London on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the next date on the agenda for Lewis could be 12 December at Madison Square Garden, New York, against Lou Savarese or the former International Boxing Federation champion Michael Moorer.

In Las Vegas, the Nevada State Athletic Commission's hearing to determine whether Mike Tyson will get back his licence to box has been postponed until at least next Monday. Apart from awaiting the results of psychological tests, the Commission wants more information about allegations that Tyson struck two men following a car crash in Maryland in August.