Boxing: Holligan in Mexico

ANDY HOLLIGAN, the British and Commonwealth light-welterweight champion, has had his fight with the world champion, Julio Cesar Chavez, switched from Las Vegas to Puebla, 80 miles south-east of Mexico City, on 11 December.

The Liverpudlian said he would not mind facing Chavez in the heartland of the champion's support. 'It doesn't really bother me,' he said.

Holligan, unbeaten and ranked sixth by the World Boxing Council, is soon to go to Mexico for at least three weeks' altitude training.

In 89 fights, Chavez has won 88 with one draw - against the welterweight champion, Pernell Whitaker - and has set a target of a century of bouts unbeaten.

'I couldn't sleep for four days just thinking about this exciting chance I've got,' said Holligan, who recently left the Mickey Duff stable to join forces with Frank Warren. 'Because of our styles, I think it will be a head-on collision.'

Nigel Benn will defend his WBC super-middleweight title against Henry Wharton of York in the new year. He will earn pounds 1,072,704, an advance on the pounds 1m he picked up for the draw with Chris Eubank at Old Trafford last month.