Naseem would lift strain on Wayne

Wayne Mccullough is a far from contented boxer. Angered by what he sees as promoter Mat Tinley's disregard for his career and forced to fight away from home, it's only been the recent birth of his first child, Wynona Leigh, that has brought any happiness.

"If I was a free man today I would head back home to Belfast and I know that I would pack the King's Hall in Belfast and the Point Depot in Dublin, but I am tied into another two years of a contract here in Las Vegas and there's nothing I can do about it. I will have to grit my teeth and hang in there" he said.

"I went to Connecticut, for a fight last week and my opponent was changed without any reference to me at the last minute," he said. "Now there is another fight scheduled for May 18th and I still don't know who will be facing me in the ring. McCullough says that Tinley hasn't spoken to him in over three weeks and that he left immediately after the Connecticut fight without discussing future arrangements.

"There was a time when I believed that Mat was my friend but that has all changed. I would never treat a friend like that and I am never sure what is happening next. What I need now is a world title fight.

"As I see it now I am ready to get into the ring with anyone. I am the number one challenger for Eric Morales's title and he has to fight me before September. "If Mat is my friend, as he claims to be, he should be getting me a world title fight and not delaying the whole situation." McCullough believes that were he able fight in Ireland his career would be take off again. "I am only getting a quarter of what I would be earning if I was fighting in the King's Hall or in Dublin. I was promised three fights in Ireland but they have not materialised.

"I will be 28 in July and the last 15 months of my career have been wasted," he added. "I plan to retire by the time I am 30 but I am not making the kind of money which would allow me to retire in comfort."

There has been a rapprochement of sorts in recent times between the fighter and Tinley, although McCullough decided to name his wife, Cheryl, as his new manager with Tinley retaining the role of promoter, which he still holds.

Tinley, meanwhile, remains determined to set up a spectacular world challenge between McCullough and Prince Naseem Hamed.

"I know that Wayne is frustrated at the moment and I understand that," Tinley said. "We are trying to set up good matches for him and we are hopeful that he will have a real opponent on May 18th and that we can advance his career to the stage that we can get him a really important and lucrative fight.

"In my view that would be a world title fight with Naseem. That would fill any hall anywhere and would earn both a huge payday," he added. This is a view which is shared by McCullough himself. He is adamant that he would win. "I would have no problems with Hamed. He is good but he isn't that good. I could handle him without much problem. I am not a heavy puncher but my combinations would wear down the best. I have fought better boxers and better punchers than Naseem and I am ready at any time.

"The fact is that it is all about money and he doesn't want to fight anyone like me who can beat him. Kevin Kelly showed up his weakness. I would go that one step farther."