Frank Maloney has lit the blue touch paper for the most eagerly-awaited fight on British soil this year by vowing Paul Ingle will "tear up the rule book" in his quest to wrestle Prince Naseem Hamed's world crown.

Fighting talk: Paul Ingle (left) meets Naseem Hamed at their press conference in Manchester

Hamed defends his World Boxing Organisation featherweight title against Scarborough ace Ingle at the Manchester Evening News Arena on April 10.

It will be Hamed's 12th defence but his first since splitting with trainer Brendan Ingle and manager Frank Warren.

Now Maloney, Ingle's manager, has stoked up the war of words with Hamed's new camp by declaring the Yorkshire Hunter will make their lives a misery.

"I want Paul to go in there and make the first three rounds hell," demanded Maloney.

"He has to strike every shot he can at Naz, aim at every part of his body, make sure every jab lands on his nose, every hook lands on the side of his head.

"He will make him suffer and when he goes back to his corner he will have a strange camp there, he will have people in his corner he has never had before.

"Paul will put him under pressure. This is a three round fight and Paul has to win anyway he can and tear up the rule book."Steve Pollard, Ingle's trainer, also poured fuel on the fire by pledging Ingle will "smash" the Sheffield supernova.

"Naz will be horizontal at the end of it, humiliated and defeated," said a bullish Pollard.

"Hamed has always fought kids who have just gone past their best but not anymore.

"He is facing Paul Ingle at the top of his tree. Ingle isn't going to get any better than he is now and what he has got is enough to beat Naz."

Maloney's outburst came in the middle of what had been up to that point a low-key press conference at Manchester's Crowne Plaza hotel.

Hamed even paid tribute to Ingle, the undefeated European featherweight champion and former British and Commonwealth champion.

"There is very much some strength in there and he doesn't know what it is like to be beat so you have to give him respect," said Hamed.

"But once I get in the ring respect goes out of the window and I do think I have boxed better fighters."

Following Maloney's outburst Hamed said he was looking for a quick night's work.

"I agree this is going to be an early fight. On April 10 the hunting season will be over.

"I warn everyone not to blink because they might miss something, I want to take Paul Ingle out in style.

"The last thing they want to do is tear up the rule book because they must realise they are in there against the best featherweight, the hardest punching featherweight in the world.

"Once he gets hit and he feels that shot he may change his mind."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.