THE mother of a Burnley tot who was badly burned in a house fire was knocked over to receive a telephone call - from World Boxing Champion Prince Naseem Hamed!
The fight king has thrown his weight behind the cash-raising campaign to buy a car for burns victim Chantelle Ryan.
The featherweight champion has donated a signed pair of gloves which will go to the highest bidder to help the 23-month-old fellow fighter.
Chantelle battled for life after fire swept her Daneshouse home last summer - melting polystyrene ceiling tiles which dripped over her tiny body.
Her mum Roseann Montgomery, who recently launched the fund to buy a car to allow her to take Chantelle on outings and hospital visits, wrote to Sheffield-based Prince Naseem to outline her plight - and was knocked over when he phoned her back just a few days later.
"I watch all his fights on Sky and I am a big fan," she said.
"It was unbelievable to have him on the other end of a phone.
"He was really interested in Chantelle and said he wanted to help."
"I am sure the gloves will give a big boost to the fund.
"I want to meet Prince Naseem, hug him and say a big 'thank-you'."
It was Christmas before Chantelle was allowed back to her new home in Gill Street, to be with mum and brothers, Liam and Michael.
She is fitted with head and face mask as well as a special body stocking and still needs treatment at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, three times a week.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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