BILLY HARDY could have been forgiven for raising a glass or two in celebration on Sunday night when he learned he would be challenging for Naseem Hamed's IBF and WBO world featherweight titles in Manchester on May 3rd. Instead, he went for a six mile run.

The superfit, flame haired 32 year old European champion from Sunderland is the WBO's number one challenger. He had feared he would be made to wait for his chance while Hamed tried to unify the four versions of the world crown. Now he will have his best pay day.

Hardy got his chance when promoter Frank Warren failed to persuade WBA champion Wilfredo Vasquez, of Puerto Rico, to risk his title against the Sheffield based champion. Vasquez against Hamed could still happen in late June or early July on a bill which might also include a super middleweight title unification fight between the WBO champion Steve Collins and WBA champion Frankie Lyles of the US.

Hardy's professional career dates back to 1983, and he has failed twice to win the IBF version of the world bantamweight title. He lost on each occasion to Orlando Canizalez, on points in 1990 and in a bad, eighth round stoppage a year later.

He came back, after a brief retirement, as a featherweight to win the European title against the odds on foreign soil, and has defended it successfully on three occasions, most recently a points win against former WBO world champion and Hamed victim, Steve Robinson.

Hamed was in typically ebullient mood at the announcement of the fight, suggesting Hardy's promoter, Barry Hearn, should look for some more snooker players to sign up" because his fighter would take "a bad beating".

"I have respect for Billy, because he's been around a long time," said Hamed. "But I will take time to beat him up and then finish the fight in whichever round I choose. I will be too strong. He says he has tricks up his sleeve, but he's going to get knocked out."

Hardy has always argued that he has the style required to beat Hamed. But the Sheffield man has earned 23 stoppage victories in 25 wins on an unblemished record, and his power should prove decisive once more.

WBC super middleweight champion Robin Reid defends his title on the same Manchester bill. His opponent is likely to be either former champion Thulane "Sugar Boy" Malinga, of South Africa, or the popular Yorkshireman Henry Wharton.

A match with Wharton would unquestionably be the more attractive option.

In a third world title fight, 36 year old Salford based light middleweight Steve Foster will hope for his night of glory when he challenges Roald "Winky" Wright for the WBO title he retained with ease in a points victory over Foster's training partner, Ensley Bingham, last November.