Paul Ingle has no regrets in turning down two world title fights and opting to defend his European featherweight title in his home-town of Scarborough instead.

The Yorkshire Hunter told the Evening Press that he is convinced he has made the right decision despite his promoter Frank Maloney and trainer Steve Pollard both expressing their surprise.

Ingle was offered both world title shots last week - one by World Boxing Organisation champion Prince Naseem Hamed - but he is not prepared to give up his European belt.

The other world crown was the World Boxing Association belt held by Venezuelan Antonio Cermano.

Pollard said: "He's got the talent to win a world title but he hasn't got the mind for it."

After staying up until the early hours to consider his options, Ingle decided to fight former WBO champion Steve Robinson in front of his home-town fans.

"It will be a hard fight but I am hoping for a late round stoppage," Ingle said.

"Sixty percent of me wanted to go for Robinson, the other 40 percent wanted Cermano.

"I want to go into my next fight without the slightest doubt in my mind that I am doing the right thing. I'm 110 per cent sure I can beat Robinson."

The Hamed option had been favoured by Maloney, who called the purse offer "exceptional" and added: "He would have had everything to gain and nothing to lose."

The bout with Cermano, which was offered by Don King, would have been chief support to Evander Holyfield v Lennox Lewis in New York's Madison Square Garden.

Ingle's clash with Welshman Robinson, at Scarborough's Spa on March 6, will be his first return to the ring since he stopped Sunderland's Billy Hardy in eight rounds to claim the European title at York Barbican Centre.

If he overcomes Robinson, Ingle said he hopes to fight Cermano in July on British soil.

But Maloney said: "It is Paul's decision and I respect it. But he has put all his eggs in one basket. If anything goes wrong with Robinson, Paul is way out of the world title picture."

Pollard, too, believes Ingle has chosen the wrong route but insisted he would stand by his man and prepare him for the Robinson fight.

"I'm surprised but he just employs me to train him and I'll continue to do that," said Pollard.

Pele Reid will challenge Julius Francis for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing titles at Bethnal Green on January 30 after Danny Williams pulled out through injury. Reid, the former kick-boxing star who is trained by Brendan Ingle in Sheffield, has relinquished a European title shot to meet Francis.

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