AUSSIE hot-shot Quinten Hann's opponents will have to box clever when they come up against him in the Travis Perkins UK Snooker Championship. The quick-tempered 'bad boy' is fighting fit after taking up boxing this summer.

Hann, who plays qualifier Shokat Ali in the first round on Monday, famously almost came to blows with Andy Hicks during the Embassy World Championship at Sheffield in May.

The Australian world No 18 lost 10-4 to Hicks in the first round, but it was the post-match exchange as the players left the arena which drew the attention of millions of fans across the world. There were angry words from both players and a physical confrontation seemed imminent until the intervention of referee Lawrie Annandale.

"There was a bit of needle from the start," said Hann.

"I said that I'd enjoyed the three times I'd beaten him. He wouldn't get out the way when I was going to the table. I knew he was going to say something at the end and he said 'well, you're not in the top 16 now' - I thought it was a bit low."

He added: "It was a bit of harmless fun for the crowd and you've got to see the funny side of it."

Hicks said: "Under the heat of the moment I said the wrong thing but if he winds me up I'll do it back. There's no love lost between us."

So Hann accepted a couple of boxing challenges this summer. He beat fellow snooker player Mark King but was beaten by Gaelic footballer Jonny Magee in Dublin a couple of months ago.

"I broke his nose but I lost on points - I was robbed," groaned Hann.

He intends to continue the fight game, especially because of his "love-hate relationship with snooker".

"Some days I love snooker and other days I hate it," he admitted.

"I can't really explain it. Snooker is good some days, but I enjoy the boxing. I get a real buzz and adrenaline rush out of boxing.

"I think people forget I've been playing snooker for over 15 years. I've lost my appetite a bit for the game."

Hann's well-documented dislike for former world number one Mark Williams has led the Aussie to challenge him to a boxing bout with a reputed £50,000 going to the winner.

As yet Williams, who boxed as a youth and is a close friend of world champion Joe Calzaghe, has not accepted the invitation.

"I'd love to get Mark Williams in a ring, but he just won't do it," said Hann.

"He's probably scared of me, although I know he was a good boxer when he was a junior. I think he was unbeaten for 14 fights.

"We've been trying to get a fight on, probably in Cardiff because he's massive there. That would be nice if it could happen."

Hann claims he has given up alcohol in recent months and taken up other sporting pursuits such as tennis and fishing.

And he has hinted that this might be his last season in snooker.

"I've got other priorities in my life right now - snooker is just a job."

Hann has also found himself in trouble away from snooker, boxing and his other enthusiasm, motorbikes.

Two years ago at the Old Bailey he was cleared of rape, but now he has another case of alleged sexual assault in London on-going.

If he wins his opening match, against Shokat Ali, Hann will then have to face Yorkshire favourite Paul Hunter on Wednesday.

Hann and Hicks, however, are in different quarters of the draw for York and would have to play out of their skins if they are to meet in the last eight.

Updated: 16:32 Wednesday, November 10, 2004