Respected boxing coach, Brendan Ingle has predicted one of the region's most promising boxers is to follow in the footsteps of his former protgs and become a title-holder.

It was Ingle who set Prince Naseem Hamed on the road to success from his gym in Sheffield and he is now tipping Michael Hall of Darlington to become a champion.

"I've done it with Prince Naseem Hamed," he said. "I've trained world champions and I have been doing it for 20 years.

"He's done it at amateur level and now I'm teaching him, the lad is making great progress. In his last fight against Paul Denton, who is a former ABA champion, he fought really well."

Ingle has a lot of faith in Hall who has been under his tuition for two-and-a-half years and believes will get a title shot if Hall, who says he is ranked in the top 20 in the country, can continue his progress.

"If he carries on as he has been doing he'll get a title chance within six months to a year.

"He's got used to my methods now, my methods are a little different.

"He's coming along nicely."

Four years ago Hall, whose elder brothers all had varying degrees of success in the boxing ring, had his hopes of competing in the Olympics dashed by a viral infection. Eighteen months later he decided to turn pro to "give it a shot and see how it goes," he said.

"Two and half years ago I decided to go pro. It was a bit slow in the beginning. Brendan Ingle's methods are a bit different to everybody else's."

His amateur record, which reads 83 wins out of 99 fights, is very impressive but it is his pro record which catches the eye. A record of eleven victories from eleven fights indicate that by any measure, Hall is a contender of top calibre.

As an amateur Hall, who fights at light welterweight, won a junior ABA title, a senior ABA title and was chosen to represent England on 20 occasions, during which he was captain on five times.

Hall fights in Nottingham next month after which, should he win, it is hoped a fight will be arranged to take place in the North-East where he would receive the full-backing of his home town although he would like more support now, both vocally and financially.

"I want good support and if I get say, 100 people (at Nottingham) they would all have a good day. If I win hopefully the next fight will be in Darlington.

"The last fight was good. It proved to a lot of people I am here and I mean business. I gave a lot of weight away to the lad and he was more experienced.

"I want the support of people in Darlington, even though I am based in Sheffield. When I fight I'm always introduced as being from Darlington."

As well as wearing shorts bearing Darlington FC's colours, Hall has created a nickname which identifies himself with his home town.

"I'm going to try and get the public behind me. I want my public behind me so I'm going to be called the Quaker-Breaker."

Hall's mild-mannered nature clashes with one's image of the overly-confident boxer, all too ready to call the shots.

He explained: "I don't mind doing all the training and the winning but when it comes to all of the media stuff...I'm more of a boxer than a talker."

Ingle's influence may also have had an effect.

"I've always said it's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice, and manners don't cost anything," said Ingle.

With the sort of boxing pedigree which is never doubted, Ingle's opinion of a fighter is always noted. His last word on Hall -

"He'll make it, there's no doubt about that."

l Tickets for the forthcoming fight are running out fast but any remaining are available from Quaker Cabs priced £26 (including coach ride), £20 (without coach). Telephone (01325) 462626