Horse boxes

The fight between Naseem Hamed and Wayne McCullough in Atlantic City is probably the biggest event for an Irish boxer since Barry McGuigan was defeated in the Caesar's Palace parking lot in 1986 - the Collins fights included.

But evidently it is not such a big deal for Hamed, who arrived in New York on Tuesday evening. That gives him three days to recover from the flight (by Concorde) and the time difference of five hours, to adjust to the food, temperature difference, hotel, ring and general surroundings. Even McCullough, who lives in Las Vegas, arrived in Atlantic City a day before Hamed. Brendan Ingle, Hamed's trainer, had been in the hotel with others in the camp since the beginning of the week. Only the boxer was missing.

Boxers often compare themselves to race horses. Why then when Dermot Weld won the Melbourne Cup with Vintage Crop did he arrive one month before the race and why are many of the European horses who are to run in the Breeders Cup next week already well adapted to the new conditions?

The Prince is managed by his brothers Raith and Nabeel. If prevailing wisdom is turned on its head and McCullough somehow wins, maybe they should call in Jenny Pitman.