North Yorkshire's world boxing champion Paul Ingle is "95 per cent" he will make his first defence of his crown as chief support to Naseem Hamed on March 11 at London's Olympia, writes Dave Stanford.

However, the Scarborough ace, speaking at an Evening with Paul Ingle and Friends at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in his home town last night, said it was not yet clear who his opponent will be.

Former American world champion Kevin Kelley remains the favourite but Ingle revealed he could also defend his International Boxing Federation title against the highly-rated South African Vuyani Bungu.

Bungu is the IBF's number one challenger after making ten defences of his super-bantamweight world title.

Whoever he faces, Ingle insisted the fight must be an eliminator for another shot at the Prince.

Ingle, who was joined on stage by former world champion Barry McGuigan, said he believed Hamed, who faces Junior Jones on March 11, was heading for defeat within the year and was anxious to be the one to do it.

The Scarborough ace told fight fans he expects to move up to super-featherweight in the future and wants to have about ten more fights before retiring.

He said he would then like to work as a fitness conditioner alongside boxers.

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