By Sanjeev Shetty Boxing editor

Hamed's future in the ring remains in the balance

Naseem Hamed may return to the ring this autumn, BBC Sport has learned.

The former WBO world champion, who has not fought since May 2002, has requested that HBO, the US cable company that screens his fights, keep a date available for him in September.

If the 29-year-old Hamed does decide to fight on, his return will likely happen on one of the two final weekends of that month.

But Kery Davis, senior vice president of HBO sports, told this website that he could not be entirely certain that Hamed would be seen in the ring again.

Naseem Hamed profile

"They (the Hamed camp) told me they plan on fighting and I take them at their word," Davis said.

"But I haven't spoken to Naseem directly.

"I'm not 100% sure (why Hamed has not fought) - he has changed trainers and he hasn't hired a new trainer yet."

The Hamed camp were unavailable for comment.

Davis also confirmed that WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is geared towards an autumn showdown with Vitali Klitschko.

Lennox Lewis profile

Both men appear in the ring on 21 June in Los Angeles, with Lewis fighting Canadian Kirk Johnson and Klitschko to face an opponent yet to be named.

"I'm pretty sure if both men win, things are fairly complete for them to fight in the fall," said Davis.