Boxing: Hamed homes in on Kelley

Prince Naseem Hamed arrived in New York for his World Boxing Organisation title defence in confident mood last night. As expected Hamed, who meets Kevin Kelley at the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, on 19 December, was dismissive of his opponent.

"Something drastic could happen to Kelley in the first round. I don't want to sound awful in saying that, but boxing is boxing. All I want to do is win,'' he said.

"He's been shooting his mouth off a bit and he deserves to be taken out - and I'll take him out in style. The Brits are coming and going to America as one - and we'll see if we come back losers. When you are with me, you're going on a winning show and you're going to come back a winner."

It will be Hamed's American debut after signing a multi-million dollar deal with the cable network Home Box Office.

"Nerves? I have to look up that word in a dictionary," Hamed added. "You haven't heard that in my conversation or the word `losing'. I don't ever think about negatives.

"I want to be in boxing for five, six, seven, eight years, as long as I want. The money I'm going to make is unlimited - multi-millions."

Hamed is looking for a property in the London area and maybe a house in America, but added: "I can't see me emigrating out there."

The last time Hamed left Terminal Three for the United States, he was involved in his fracas with Chris Eubank, which earned both men a warning from the British Board of Control.

Hamed concluded: "I've realised the man, at 30-odd, is trying to make publicity out of me, steal the limelight, pull publicity stunts because he's out of the game."