PRINCE NASEEM SHOWS SURPRISED RESPECT FOR OPPONENT

Boxing

Boxing

Prince Naseem Hamed surprised everybody in Cardiff yesterday, replacing brashness with a show of respect for Steve Robinson, the World Organisation featherweight champion. "I take my hat off to Steve Robinson and respect him as a world champion, he's done the business and you can't take anything away from him. But fights have to be built up. You can't have two fighters being nice to each other," Hamed said. Frank Warren, the promoter, predicts a 16,000 sell-out for the world title fight, at the Cardiff Rugby Club tomorrow.

Fernando Piccio, a Philippines lightweight, has regained consciousness and been taken off a life support machine five days after suffering head injuries in a bout against Australian Selwyn Currie near Brisbane, Australia. Doctors were optimistic that he would make a full recovery.

Max Schmeling, Germany's boxing legend who became heavyweight world champion in 1930, was 90 yesterday. His biggest success was in 1936 when he knocked out Joe Louis in 12 rounds. Schmeling still keeps in shape watching boxing on television while riding his exercise bike.