Hamed ready to defend his title at last

Boxing

Naseem Hamed will make the first defence of his World Organisation featherweight title on the same day that Frank Bruno defends his world heavyweight title.

Hamed, who has recovered from a hand injury, will fight the Austrian- based Nigerian Said Laval at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow on Saturday 16 March, - the same night as Bruno's fight against Mike Tyson in Las Vegas.

There was a possibility of Hamed fighting on the Bruno-Tyson bill, but he prefers this arrangement. He said: "I like to be the main attraction."

It will be six months since Hamed last fought, when he took the title from Steve Robinson in Cardiff. A hand injury has put something of a cloud over Hamed since then, with two dates for a defence against the Mexican Arnulfo Caspillo being postponed.

Hamed, who will be 22 next week, said: "My hand will be fine for March, it will be perfect. I decided against going for an operation and went for a cortisone injection instead. I'm hitting the bag with no pain, although I've not started sparring yet."