FAME and fortune in the FA Cup is a dream that rarely becomes a reality. And for some clubs, failure to win through to the first round proper can affect their entire season.

Nationwide Conference side Morecambe, for example, will be relishing Saturday's trip to the Manor ground to play league opposition, but they can hardly expect Oxford United - even in their current run of dismal form and without manager Malcolm Shotton who resigned on Monday - to be the victims of the day's shock result.

Morecambe will be happy with a reasonable pay-day at the Manor, as will Oxford City, who travel to Wycombe Wanderers. City's tie has the extra intrigue of facing up to their former strilker, Jermaine McSporran, who has been hitting the target regularly since his £100,000 move to Adams Park last season.

City earned the draw after beating Salisbury 2-1 - leaving the Dr Martens League premier side both envious and out-of-pocket. Salisbury would have loved a trip to Wycombe and it would have solved their financial problems.

Now they're out, however, they've had to release one of their top players to help bolster finances for the rest of the season.

City's finances will do very nicely thank you, with a big crowd guaranteed at Adams Park. City will also hope to prosper from a sell-on clause in the McSporran transfer.

The rumour is that McSporran, turned down by Arsenal while still a City player, could still join the Gunners soon - but the fee now will be closer to £1m, with City pocketing some of that.

Witney Town's cup challenge saw them bow out after a brave battle at Yeovil Town. They made their exit with their heads held high, although they missed out on a potential jackpot - with Yeovil now travelling to Reading in the first round proper.

The cup is full of 'if onlys' and 'what might have beens' but for those local sides still left, they must make the most of their opportunities. A FORTNIGHT ago, I expressed my disgust at women's boxing and the appearance of Muhammad Ali's daughter Laila in a big fight in the United States.

This weekend, it was the turn of men's boxing to turn my stomach, with 'Prince' Naseem Hamed's farcical retention of his world featherweight title and the one-round fiasco bout between Mike Tuson and Orlin Norris.

Hamed was close to disqualification as he slammed opponent Cesar Soto to the canvas with a judo throw. Then Soto did his bit to sour what was already an ugly bout by head-butting Hamed.

On Sunday, it was the return of Tyson. His fight lasted all of one round before Norris declared himself unfit to continue.

But in the very same ring where he had bitten off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear and spat it on to the canvas, this time Tyson tried to break his opponent's arm and landed a short left hook after the bell had sounded for the end of the round.

Quite rightly, Tyson's purse for the fight (more than £6m) has been withheld and he could yet have his boxing licence revoked.

The only good thing to come out of this latest slur on boxing is that Tyson is now threatening to resign, which won't upset too many fight fans. But the farce continues with reports that Muhammad Ali is threateneing to get himself back in the ring at then age of 57.

Ali, half-crippled by Parkinson's disease and needing to lose at least 35lbs, says he will get himself fit for an exhibition bout in New York.

Hamed's and Tyson's displays at the weekend were obscene enough. But Ali back in the ring would be an even more grotesque and undignified freak show.

It's no way for for such a great champion to be remembered.

Story date: Wednesday 27 October

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