MICHAEL CARRUTH, a gold medalist in Barcelona four years ago, has been promised a world welterweight title bout before the end of the year.

His manager, Frank Warren, said Carruth had now earned the chance, which could materialise in Dublin before the year is out.

Carruth faces the British title holder Kevin Lueshing from Beckenham at The Point on August 31st. He and fellow Dubliner Paul Griffin will feature on the bill when "Prince" Naseem Hamed defends his World Boxing Organisation title against the former IBF and WBC champion, Manuel Madina, from Mexico.

Carruth, Griffin and Griffin's Sheffield trainer, Brendan Ingle, were in Dublin yesterday to promote the fight, which takes place on the eve of the All Ireland hurling final. Ingle said many hurling fans in Britain were planning to make a weekend trip to Dublin to take in the fight on Saturday night and the hurling on Sunday afternoon.

Carruth said the announcement that he was to get a world title shot was "great news". He has been beaten only once in 13 professional bouts. His most recent fight was against Chris Saunders in Mansfield, when both boxers were on the floor before Carruth stopped the former British champion in the 10th round. It was Carruth's first 10 round fight.

"I have no problem about fighting 10 or 12 rounds now. I am stronger and faster than I have ever been, and the possibility of a world title shot will give me all the incentive I need," he said.

Asked which of the world titles he would like to go for, he said. "I fancy Pernell Whitaker's WBC title. I believe that if we can put together a package big enough to attract him to Dublin I could win the title and join Steve Collins before the end of the year.

I will need a couple of fights before then. Maybe I will go to America to get a bit of exposure there," he said.

Paul Griffin has won all five of his professional fights, but he believes that he can push his career along much more quickly now that he has joined Brendan Ingle's gym. "I feel much happier with Brendan and I have gained marvellous experience within a few months," he said.

Griffin has certainly fallen on his feet, so to speak, since joining Ingle. "The great thing about it is that I have been sparring regularly with Naseem, and that has certainly sharpened me up a lot. I often do as many as seven or eight rounds a day with him.

must have sparred more than 100 rounds with him.

"I have also got into the right frame of mind. I believe that a lot of boxing has to do with getting in the right frame of mind," he said.

Griffin and Carruth have also been sparring each other on a regular basis in Dublin. "We agree that we won't do punches to the head," says Carruth, "but he forgets sometime and then I forget too."

Also appearing on the August 31st bill will be Mark Winters and Eamonn Magee from Belfast and Jim Rock from Dublin.