THE biggest event in Las Vegas at the weekend took on marathon proportions when compared to the sudden, explosive action in the main bout at the SECC in Glasgow. Prince Naseem Hamed brought his one-man circus to town - and recorded one of the quickest ever wins in a world championship ring.

The unbeaten 22-year-old from Sheffield, making the first defence of his World Boxing Organisation featherweight title, took out the Austrian-based Nigerian challenger Said Lawal in just 35 seconds of devastating power-punching to send a chilling message to those who would attempt to block his passage from being a prince to a king.

The almost 8000 capacity crowd was just as stunned as the man who was briefly separated from his senses by one of the greatest talents in world boxing today. There were some catcalls from those nearer the back of the arena, and there were angry chants directed towards the challenger, but those nearer the ringside could appreciate the power and accuracy of a master craftsman at work.

The 26-year-old Lawal came with good credentials, having lost just one of his 19 contests and holding the World Boxing Council International cham- pionship belt, but from the moment, earlier in the week, when Hamed predicted that he would knock his opponent out in two rounds, you had the feeling that the challenger did not have a chance.

Afterwards, Hamed said: ``I apologise to the fans for the shortness of the action . . . but I did warn everyone that it wouldn't last long.

``He was supposed to go in two, but I hurt him badly straight away and there was no point in prolonging it. I will be back in Glasgow again, and the fans will see an even better Prince next time.

``Don't start knocking the opponent, because that was all about punching power and accuracy. Those shots would have taken out anyone.''

It was rather ironic that the only three punches of the fight - and they all came from Hamed - were delivered by the ``dodgy'' right hand which had kept the Sheffield man out of action for six months since winning the crown from Welshman Steve Robinson.

``I had a point to prove tonight,'' said Hamed. ``In certain sections of the media people were claiming that Naz's career was on the ropes, because of the injury. What nonsense that was. I knew Lawal was a southpaw, and I knew the shot to throw right away - a perfect right hand.''

Asked what Lawal said to him afterwards, Hamed said: ``Nothing. He didn't know too much about it. I think he was arguing with his corner men about why he wasn't boxing - but it was all over before he knew it.''

As was hinted earlier, the pre-fight extravaganza took longer than the action. Laval entered the ring like a man climbing the scaffold and was kept waiting some 10 minutes before a sign at the back of the arena, with the word ``Naseem,'' was lit up by fireworks and burst into flames. Suddenly, on the balcony beside it, the little champion appeared, waving to the crowd, then began the long walk towards the ring and the backward flip over the ropes.

As soon as the bell sounded, Hamed skipped straight across the ring and landed a crushing right hook flush on Lawal's face - ``That one broke his nose,'' Hamed's trainer Brendan Ingle told us. The Nigerian went down like a rag doll, but courageously got to his feet when the count was at five.

The champion then produced a right uppercut which had the challenger sprawling on the ropes, and when he followed up with a right cross to the head, which again sent him to the canvas, Puerto Rican referee Wiso Fernandez had no other option than to call it a night.

Hamed then spelled out a warning to any pretenders to the Prince's world crown.

``That's what a true professional is - a true world champion, so to everybody out there listening, especially the fighters that want to fight me . . . they'll get knocked out, sparko. I'm going to remain world champion for as long as I want and add even more titles to this one, because I honestly believe no-one out there can beat me.''

Willie ``The Mighty'' Quinn was one of several Scots featured on the 16-fight programme, and the middlewight from Tranent had a good warm-up for his likely challenge to British champion Neville Brown when he stopped Chesterfield's Martin Jolley after 1min 27sec of the fourth round. Other results included:

Middleweight - John McAlpine (Glasgow) lost to Jason Matthews (London), rsc 1st rd (cut).

Light-middle - Tommy Quinn (Tranent) outpointed Seamus Casey (Alfreton) 4 rds.

Light-welter - Alan McDowall (Renfrew) outpointed Mark Ramsey (Birmingham) 6 rds.

Super-bantam - Brian Carr (Moodiesburn) outpointed Chip O'Neill (Newcastle) 4 rds; Shaun Anderson (Maybole) outpointed Colin Innes (Newcastle) 4 rds.