IT IS understandable that Henry Wharton is regarding today's

Commonwealth title defence against Sipho Moyo at Leeds Town Hall as

something of a gamble.

That is his best means of motivation to ensure there are no slip-ups

before his big December 10 date with WBO super-middleweight champion

Chris Eubank in Manchester.

An initial inspection of Moyo's credentials suggests a one-horse race,

even though the Zimbabwean has suffered only one defeat in 10 fights.

That was in July, 1990, significantly to compatriot Arigoma Chiponda,

who was blown away in two rounds by young West Ham light-heavyweight

prospect Garry Delaney last month.

Of his nine wins (seven inside schedule), five have been against

questionable opposition such as Lucky Manase (twice), Sam Thunderstorm

and Francis Zulu.

Although nothing can be certain in a sport of upsets, Wharton is

highly-rated in global terms and one of the best punchers in Britain --

especially with the left hook -- so he should really make short work of

the 35-year-old challenger.

While Wharton's camp and followers would welcome a swift outcome,

boxing cannot really afford any more biting criticism following the

wholesale panning of Eubank's recent WBO defences and the Hong Kong

farce.

Simon Block, secretary of the Commonwealth Council, commented: ''Moyo

has a good record and we sincerely hope he will come here and justify

his inclusion in the rankings, and we expect him to.

''Quite naturally we are concerned about the performance of Chiponda,

and that has followed other disappointing performances by boxers from

that part of the world. We naturally await the outcome tomorrow with

interest.''

Wharton, 26, said: ''I'm gambling. The stakes couldn't be higher. I

could have faced Eubank without this fight and counted on a big pay day.

''In fact, if I beat Eubank it would make me a millionaire, something

I thought would never be within my grasp.

''Because of that, I wasn't too keen to take this fight to begin with,

but my manager Mickey Duff talked me round and I'm glad he did.

''I'd been nearly five months without a fight when I challenged Nigel

Benn for the WBC title last February. I was ring-rusty and it cost me. I

won't be caught out again. It keeps my mind off the Eubank fight.''

Bank on a Wharton win by the short route, and the champion's fans and

television watchers should not be surprised if a fully-monocled Eubank

-- or one of his representatives -- turn up in Leeds for a closer look

at the next opponent on his faltering Sky World Tour.

* BRITISH light-middleweight champion Robert McCracken has pulled out

of his bid to win a Lonsdale Belt outright after his brother was stabbed

in Birmingham at the weekend.

McCracken, who is unbeaten in 21 fights, was to have made a second

defence of his title against Welshman Carlo Colarusso at the London

Arena on November 9. But the fight has now been postponed.

Maxwell McCracken, a former professional boxer, was stabbed at a

Birmingham wine bar and is in the major injuries unit at the city's

General Hospital.