NIGEL BENN yesterday admitted there would be no need for a ringside retirement speech if Steve Collins proves to be his master in their rematch at Manchester's Nynex Arena on November 9th.

Benn feels such an announcement would be superfluous because everyone would know it must definitely be the end of his outstanding career.

Benn, of course, has twice changed his mind after making announcements to quit, after his WBC super middleweight title loss to Sugarboy Malinga in March, and when a twisted ankle cut short his clash with WBO champion Collins in July.

Not that Benn was in a negative frame of mind when the two men came face to face at a plush London hotel - he was just being realistic.

"If I get beat I won't have to tell people I'm retired. They will all know what's happening. I'll retire when I'm 28, but I'm still enjoying it. If I have a dream why should I call it a day?

"I want to be a four time world champion. It's there for the taking, I'm not kidding, I'll know when it's time to get out. I know I can beat Collins.

Collins was not short of a stinging reply. "Nigel, you have a dream, I'm your nightmare. It won't go two rounds," said the WBO champion before his fifth defence.

He said the finish in our first fight was unsatisfactory. He was on the way out anyway. It wasn't satisfactory.

Benn retorted: "He's just psyching himself up, he's in big trouble."

Even before promoter Frank Warren sat down to announce a huge Sky Television super show featuring Mike Tyson against Evander Holyfield on the same night from Las Vegas, Collins and Benn began shooting from the lip.

"You've lit the fuse," was a phrase Benn kept darting at the Irishman. Collins hit back: `I'm going to knock you out before your ankle hurts again.

Benn answered: "You are on dangerous ground, I know what I have to do. The only way he can make money is through me. They don't want me to retire, the other super middleweights need me."

Collins added: "There is good money for beating Nigel Benn. I hope he never retires so I can beat him 10 times. My bank manager loves him."

For once, Prince Naseem Hamed was relatively quiet during the proceedings, with the WBO featherweight champion defending his title against Argentina's Remigio Molina in the same promotion.

Although Hamed was below his best in last month's victory over Mexico's Manuel Medina, that has done nothing to dent his confidence.

He said: "I am a champion, know he's unbeaten, but Molin is going to experience defeat, I do my own thing, and I've proved works. My trainer Brendan Ingle only tells me in the corner to take deep breaths. I listen to no man."

The third world title bout or the promotion is Ensley Binghair against WBO light middleweight champion Ronald Winky Wright.