Boxing: Hamed drops Ingle hint

NASEEM HAMED has dropped the broadest hint yet that he may be ready to defend his World Boxing Organisation featherweight crown against Paul Ingle.

The world champion from Sheffield expects to have three or four fights this year, and the first may be a showdown with the Scarborough-based Ingle.

"He's been asking for a crack. I'm ready and I hope he's ready," Hamed said yesterday. "Paul Ingle has been shouting his mouth off, saying this, that and the other. I'd like to give him an opportunity to show his ability."

Roberto Duran says he wants to sign off his career with a match against his old rival Sugar Ray Leonard. Speaking in Buenos Aires, Duran, who is 47, said: "I was speaking with Leonard and he does not want to have this fight in the United States, but I think he would agree to come to Argentina."