BBC News Online: Sport

Hamed must relinquish crown

WBC president Jose Sulaiman says Hamed agreed to give up one of his belts within 15 days of beating then WBC champion Cesar Soto in Detroit last October.

He has yet to do so, and now Sulaiman has said the result of a formal vote on stripping Hamed will be announced when the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, is over next month.

"We had a very nice conversation between two people who understand each other and have a high regard for each other," Sulaiman said.

"He confirmed that he did not want to relinquish the WBO title, which I accept from the bottom of my heart.

"I have a great respect for people of loyalty and gratitude. He wanted the WBC to allow him to have both titles and that on one occasion he would defend the WBC version and on another the WBO version.

"But that is against the rules and regulations. That if definitely a conflict, so we both agreed that he was keeping the WBO title and that the WBC could proceed in accordance to its rules."