THE gauntlet wash well and truly thrown down to Wayne McCullough and his position in Irish boxing by "Prince" Naseem Hamed in Dublin yesterday. Naseem arrived, under the guidance of Brendan Ingle from Sandymount, to challenge McCullough to a winner take all fight in Dublin to end the speculation as to which of them is the top lightweight.
Frank Warren, the promoter of yesterday's press conference to announce that Naseem would fight at The Point in Dublin on August 31st, said. "This is the fight that everybody wants. We don't need a title or a belt. All we need is two guys in the ring and we have a complete sell out."
A figure of Pounds 3 million is being mentioned to stage such a contest with Naseem suggesting that McCullough owed it to his Irish supporters to take up the challenge within the next three months.
"The Irish people have been very good to Wayne McCullough know he won a silver medal for Ireland in the Barcelona Olympics but he has done most of his professional fighting in Las Vegas. He should come home and show the Irish people what he is capable of. I have no doubt that would win and I am keen that he would have the courage to take up the challenge.
"I like Dublin very much. I got a very good reception from the public when I was here for McCullough's last fight. People are very nice here. They are very friendly and jolly and I believe that a match between myself and Wayne McCullough would sell out any venue available."
Warren added that the possibility of an autumn fight between the two would have to be out of doors in order to accommodate the huge number of people who would want to see it and he did not rule out the possibility that Croke Park would be the ideal venue if the right arrangements could be made.
McCullough's non title fight, scheduled for Denver, Colorado this weekend, became touted up in immigration red tape but Warren was hopeful that it would go ahead in order to complete McCullough's commitment to the television company which has an option on his next fight. Two British boxers, Duke McKenzie and Ritchie Wenton, were turned back by immigration officers when they flew out to challenge McCullough so the bout is very doubtful.
Warren said that his Sports Network Organisation had committed itself to promoting fights in Ireland and the visit of Nassem was part of an ongoing process. "We will put on a show at The Point on August 31st which every boxing fan in Ireland will want to see. We are aware that the All Ireland hurling final takes places in Croke Park the following day and I am confident that many people who will be coming to that match will want to go to the fight on Saturday night where, apart from Naseem, we have a very attractive bill involving several Irish fighters."
Warren pointed out that Naseem's opponent will be one of five of the top super bantam weights in the world Cesar Soto from Mexico, Manuel Madina also from Mexico, Jesus Chavez from the United States, Jerri Yagin Salud of the Phillippines and Jesse Magana, also from the United States.
Also appearing on the card will be Michael Carruth, the only Irish boxer to have won an Olympic gold medal, as well as other former leading Irish amateurs Jim Webb, Mark Winters, Danny Ryan and Paul Griffin, who is now in the Brendan Ingle stable in Britain.
Carruth faces the biggest test of his career so far when he takes on Kevin Lueshing from Surrey in the welterweight division. The winner will get the chance to challenge for the vacant European welterweight championship. Carruth and Griffin are certain to attract huge support.
Tickets for the August 31st bill will be going on sale soon with the top price at Pounds 100, going down to Pounds 75, Pounds 50, Pounds 30 and Pounds 20.
