Hardy has McKenzie in sights

Boxing

Billy Hardy, the European featherweight champion, hopes to settle an old score with his former stablemate Duke McKenzie, providing he gets past his next scheduled defence against France's Mehdi Labdouni.

Hardy expects the fight to go ahead next month in France against the man he beat there on points two years ago. Yet the 33-year-old from Sunderland is looking beyond that fight.

"When I beat Labdouni I want to make a voluntary defence against McKenzie," he said. "When Duke won the British title four years ago he refused to defend against me. I'm not like him, and once Labdouni is out of the way I'll ask my manager to fix up a fight with McKenzie to prove once and for all who is the best."