David Taylor: Made commercial decision

The fight promoter, Frank Warren, said 15,000 tickets have already been ordered and the SFA said that its switchboard had been inundated with calls.

SFA chief executive, David Taylor, said 90% of calls had been enquiries about the fight against Lou Savarese, adding that the decision to hold the fight at Hampden had been purely commercial.

He said the issue of whether the former world heavyweight champion, who was convicted of rape in the US in 1992, should be allowed into the country was for the home secretary to decide.

Mr Taylor said: "Hampden is operated as a commercial venture and this is a commercial decision first and foremost.

"We are not going to impose our morals on others.

"I acknowledge there is considerable political and public debate over this and there is a democratic way for politicians to discuss this.

'Showpiece for city'

"But if the decision is made to let people come to this country, we as a commercial venture then have an interest.

"This event will be a showpiece for the stadium and a showpiece for the city of Glasgow."

He would not be drawn on ticket prices or on how much the stadium would be receiving to stage the event.

Hampden has applied to Glasgow City Council for a public entertainment licence covering 60,000 people for the fight.

It could still turn down the application on public safety grounds.