The talk in boxing

June's world light-welterweight championship showdown between home hero Ricky Hatton and title holder Kostya Tszyu in Manchester may be Britain's biggest fight in years but concerns are being raised about the Russian's build-up. Tszyu is risking injury by entering a celebrity race ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 6 March. The circuit is regarded as one of motor sport's more difficult tracks, but Tszyu will compete against rivals such as Olympic swimming gold medallist Petria Thomas and beach volleyball stars Kerrie Pottharst and Natalie Cook.

Amateur show a winner with Bruno

Proof that amateur boxing is enjoying a boom was offered at Brentwood International Centre on Sunday when a crowd of more than 1500 turned up for a show promoted by the progressive Ongar ABC, which featured 24 bouts. Talk took particular note of Frank Bruno looking good and enjoying himself ringside.

The Prince might want a role in showing his successor the ropes

The big whisper doing the rounds of the gyms is that Naseem Hamed's proposed comeback may be linked to the former world featherweight champion's hope of an involvement in the career of Olympic silver medal-winning sensation Amir Khan. Talking of Khan, the teenager is the subject of a special programme on BBC Radio Four at 8pm tomorrow night entitled "After The Silver". In it, Khan tells Mark Whitaker how reaching the lightweight final in Athens changed his life.

European title hopeful Cathy could be a big box office hit

It is generally conceded that one of the best reviews of Oscarcontender film Million Dollar Baby was that by London's leading woman boxer Cathy Brown which appeared in these pages. This column has now learned that Brown may soon rival Hilary Swank, who plays the lead role in Clint Eastwood's acclaimed film, as a star of the silver screen. Brown, a European championship contender, appears as herself in a sci-fi movie called Team 1 that may be coming to a cinema near you very soon.

Eastman's big LA night will get BBC exposure

Boxing on the box 1: Talk understands the BBC is set to announce that it will broadcast recorded highlights of Howard Eastman's clash with world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins. Eastman's career-definer takes place in Los Angeles on 19 February. Boxing on the box 2: the Bravo channel will show live former Evening Standard printer Colin Lyne's defence of the IBO light-welterweight championship against Juaquin Gallardo of the United States, from the Brentwood International Centre on Sunday 13 February. In the same month, Bravo will also put out a documentary series following the fortunes of amateur fighters training for, and competing in, ever-popular White Collar Boxing.