Boxing kingmaker Frank Maloney has warned world-title contender Paul Ingle its now or never if he wants to establish himself on the world stage.

Speaking ahead of the Yorkshire Hunter's big fight against Mexican three-time world champion Manuel Medina in Hull next month, Maloney believes Scarborough scrapper Ingle has a stark choice - win or bust.

Victory and Ingle will be crowned the International Boxing Federation's featherweight champion, catapulting his career to a new level with a cash-laden return fight against Prince Naseem Hamed on the cards.

Lose and the 27-year-old, who lost to Hamed in his last outing in April, will be left fighting in boxing's grim backwaters, chasing domestic titles for meagre purses.

"I am very confident that on November 13th Scarborough will have a world featherweight champion," said Maloney.

"But we have hyped this fight as 'Deliverance' for a reason.

"In his last fight Paul Ingle put up a brave performance against Naseem Hamed and was on the verge of winning.

"But being on the verge doesn't win you titles. Only knocking someone out or getting the decision counts.

"Seven months later and he goes back into the ring with another good champion and another world title chance knowing if he gets through there is a big rematch with Naseem Hamed waiting.

"But if he fails then the glory days are over for him and he will have to be satisfied with being a domestic fighter.

"The reality will be not be crowds of 25,000 against Naseem Hamed but topping the bill at the Spa Leisure Centre in front of 1,200 people.

"That is what November 13 means to Paul Ingle. The big pay days and the chance of becoming a superstar will stop there if he loses."

Ingle, who has set up his training camp on home territory at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough, admitted he was all too aware of the importance his clash with Medina.

"To me this fight is more important than the Naseem fight," said Ingle.

"If I don't win I will be fighting for European and Commonwealth titles when I want to be fighting for world titles.

"I gained a lot of self-belief from that fight with Naz and I now know I can compete at world level.

"There will be no slip-ups this time. Confidence is very high and I am looking forward too it."

Maloney, manager of world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, said he had spent a lot of time alongside Hamed in recent weeks.

The Sheffield superstar is currently holed up in a Pennsylvanian training camp alongside Lewis, who is preparing for his rematch with Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas on November 13

According to Maloney, Hamed, who tackles Caesar Soto for the Mexican's World Boxing Council belt next week, would relish a chance to take on Ingle for a second time.

"I have spoke to Naz about the fight in April and he has a lot of respect for Paul and he sees that a rematch would be of great benefit to them both," said Maloney.

"He does say people say to him he was a bit lucky with the punch that finished it but Naz being the brash young man he is he doesn't feel he was lucky. Another fight would settle it once and for all."

The experienced Medina, who lost to Hamed in 1996 and has fought a string of former world champions including Tom Johnson and Luisito Espinosa, is a big stumbling block to Ingle's dream, however.

"He is not coming here to lose. He knows he has got a mega pay-day with Hamed waiting too," said Maloney. "Everyone knows Naseem Hamed is on this major mission to unify the division and his next fight will be the winner of this fight.

"He knows if he comes here and knocks out Paul Ingle he will be looking at a million dollar pay day.

"If Steve Pollard (Ingle's trainer) and Paul Ingle see him as an easy touch they are making a big mistake."

Tickets for the 'Deliverance' bill, which also features York's Jamie Warters, are available from Peter Warters on 01904 622298 or from Panix Promotions on 0171 242 2358.

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