By Alistair Hendrie

Spencer Fearon has slated the Leeds light-welterweight Adil Anwar, who challenges British champion Darren Hamilton on July 6 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

In an outspoken tirade, Fearon, who promotes Hamilton, mocked Anwar and claimed the 25-year-old has been overhyped by his vocal entourage.

“They’re geeing him up as if he’s some kind of monster,” he laughed. “I’m saying: “Are you joking?” If these two guys were at school together, Hamilton would be bullying Anwar, so I don’t know why they’re getting so tough over it.

“Anwar’s just doing things for his fans, he’s not doing it for himself; you can see it in his face. We’re going out there to be victorious. It’s a done deal.”

Hamilton stunned Ashley Theophane in May 2012 to win the title, and looked convincing in his first defence five months ago, outpointing Liverpool’s Steve Williams.

But prior to meeting Fearon in 2010, he endured a chequered past and had been hit by a car, shot by a rival gang member, and hadn’t boxed in almost three years.

“You can sometimes meet people who bring out the best in you, and that’s what he’s done with me,” said Fearon. “When someone’s been shot at, when someone’s had to live on the streets, when someone’s lost their mother at eight-years-old... You can find a God-like presence in you and change your life.”

Credit to him, Hamilton is now brimming with talent and great prospects and has become established as one of the slickest counter-punchers in the country.

“He’s become so awkward to the extent that he’s now getting a lot of respect and has found a winning formula. He does genius things where you have to study real trades of boxing. You need to study old school fighters to see what you’re dealing with.

“He’s a far better technical boxer than Anwar, who doesn’t bring anything different to the table. His team are saying he’ll be too fast, he’ll be too this, he’ll be too that, but on July 6, they’ll see just how much of a genius Hamilton really is.”