Naseem Hamed will defend his WBO featherweight championship against Wilfredo Vazquez at Manchester's Nynex Arena on April 18.

But 37-year-old Puerto Rican Vazquez's WBA title will not be at stake unless the WBA agree to sanction the bout, as the champion is due to defend against Antonio Cermeno.

Vazquez has made four successful defences since winning the title against Raul Perez in March 1992 but seemed fortunate when outpointing Nicaraguan Genaro Rios in Las Vegas last November.

Unbeaten Hamed, who vacated the IBF title last August, will be making the 10th defence of the WBO crown which he won in eight rounds from Steve Robinson in Cardiff in September 1995.

The Sheffield southpaw has a perfect 29-0 record, 27 of those victories coming inside the distance.

Ulsterman Ray Close will challenge Denmark's IBO super middleweight champion Mads Larsen on March 20 in Copenhagen. Close, banned from boxing in Britain, has signed up with new Belfast manager Mike Callahan, who worked with legendary promoter Jack Solomons.

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