Boxing: May date set for Hamed's return

Naseem Hamed's return to the ring against Manuel Calvo, of Spain, has been rescheduled for Saturday 18 May at the London Arena.

The fight, originally scheduled for this Saturday, was postponed when Hamed injured his back while training nine days ago and had to be carried from his Sheffield gym.

Hamed intends to resume training next week, and his brother and manager, Riath Hamed, said yesterday: "Not only has Naz been in a lot of pain, he has been completely frustrated. Following a two-week rest period, we are hoping he can resume training next week."

By the time of the new date Hamed will have been out of the ring for 13 months since suffering his first defeat when Manuel Antonio Barrera, of Mexico, convincingly outpointed him in Las Vegas last April to take the World Boxing Organisation featherweight title.

The International Boxing Organisation featherweight belt will be at stake against Calvo, the European champion, who has never been stopped or knocked down in his 38-fight career, but has suffered four defeats on points and a draw.

The World Boxing Federation light-middleweight title bout between the champion, Steve Roberts, and the Mexican challenger, Kirino Garcia, which had originally been scheduled as chief support to Hamed-Calvo this weekend, now goes ahead at the Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre, London, on Saturday night.