GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

World cruiserweight boxing champion O'Neil Bell said an ugly incident, which led to his arrest last weekend on suspicion of assault on a sparring partner, will only motivate him to work harder for next month's crucial title defence.

However, the Jamaican-born Bell, owner of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles, while not willing to discuss details of the incident on the advice of his lawyer, said the widespread publicity surrounding the incident had caused a brief "distraction" to his training for the rematch against Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck in Paris on March 17. But he is back on track.

"It kind of shocked me for the moment," the United States-based Bell said yesterday from his training camp in Big Bear, California. "But I'm still in training. I went back on the (running) trail and I didn't need any weapon.

"I have to use this (incident) as a positive," he added. "It's strength for me. If I can keep that positive I will be victorious."

The 32-year-old Bell has been accused of throwing a hatchet and rocks at Larry Slayton during an exercise run, causing his sparring partner to flee. He was booked by the San Bernardino County sheriff's department and is out on $50,000 bail.

The champion said he is confident that a fair probe will clear him of the charge.

Not a killer

"I'm not a killer. I'm a child of life. I'm not an angel of death. A good righteous investigation will set me free," he said. "But I'm more motivated now. With that atrocity I'm running extra miles now, chopping more wood."

The Montego Bay-born Bell, who moved to the U.S. as a child, also appealed to his supporters to stick by his side.

"For those who know my true demeanour will know right from wrong," said Bell, who claimed that similar distractions have popped up before other fights. "I'm calling out to my true fans to defend me, come to my aid now."

Bell holds a ring record of 26 wins, one loss and a draw. He knocked out Mormeck in January 2006 in New York to take the Frenchman's WBC and WBA titles.