Paul Ingle has issued a "come and get me" challenge to Prince Naseem Hamed ahead of his world featherweight title defence next month.

Scarborough pocket rocket Ingle will put his IBF and IBO crowns on the line against South Africa's Mbulelo Botile in Naseem's home city of Sheffield on December 16.

If he comes through that fight successfully, Ingle has high hopes that a re-match with 'Naz' could be scheduled for early next year.

Hamed, who stopped Ingle in the 11th round of their first meeting in April last year, relinquished the WBO version of the title after refusing a mandatory defence against Istvan Kovacs, claiming the Hungarian was not of a high enough standard.

That has left the Prince, widely regarded as the number one featherweight in the world, without a title and Ingle believes it is now up to Hamed to make the next move.

"It's opened a lot of doors, " said the Yorkshire Hunter of Hamed's decision not to defend the belt. "Hopefully next April or May he'll come knocking on the door. At the end of the day, he's a challenger now. He needs me more than I need him."

First Ingle must overcome 28-year-old Botile, a former IBF bantamweight world champion.

Both fighters boast almost identical records - Ingle has won 23 of his 24 fights, 16 by knockout, and suffered just one defeat. Botile has won 26 from 27 fights, 15 by knockout, and has also been beaten just once.

The South African is ranked as the IBF's number one contender and Ingle expects a tough contest.

He said: "It's going to be a hard fight because he's got a lot of experience. He's been bantamweight champion and has been around for five or six years. I think it's going to be as hard as the other fights, if not harder.

"He's got a good record and has a similar style to me. But the way my fights are going at the moment I' getting better and better and I'm looking forward to it."

The fight, promoted by Frank Warren's Sports Network organisation, will be broadcast around the world, including Sky TV.

But more important for Ingle is the chance to fight in front of his 'home' fans for the first time since winning the world title from Manuel Medina in Hull last November.

His only defence since then was against Junior Jones in New York in April, which he won in the 11th round to add the IBO title to his IBF belt.

"It's nice to come back and show the IBO belt off to the Scarborough people who will be there supporting me," said Ingle, inviting fans to watch him train at Scarborough Sports Centre.

He has now fully recovered from the sprained hand which forced the fight to be put back from its original September date and he will start sparring next week.

So far he has been concentrating on fitness work and warmed up by recording an impressive time of 1hr 28min in the recent Great North Run to finish in the top five per cent.

Ingle's fight has joint top billing alongside Joe Calzaghe's defence of his WBO super-middleweight crown against Richie Woodhall at the 'Full Monty 2' show at Sheffield Arena.

Also added to the bill are two fighters making their professional debut - ABA 2000 champion Stephen Swales from Middlesbrough who fights at light-middleweight and featherweight Scott Miller from Hull.

Tickets are priced at £25, £30, £50, £75 and £100 and can be bought through the box office on 01992 550888.