By Ben Carey
We may be only 22 days into 2009 but British Boxing has already seen six scheduled fights placed on hold for a variety reasons, much to the frustration of the boxers, promoters and, importantly, the paying customer.
While injuries and illnesses are part and parcel of the fight game, postponed fights are an all too regular occurrence on British boxing cards up and down the country. Competing against the credit crunch and the (apparent) rising popularity of MMA shows it’s a trend which desperately needs to change, and fast.
How do promoters expect fans to continue to part with their hard-earned cash to see fights that regularly fall through? Finding a solution to this ongoing problem, if indeed there is one, is easier said then done, however.
Frank Maloney’s Stoke show on Friday has been hit by a hat-trick of postponements. First, Ian Napa had to pull out his scheduled European bantamweight title defence after suffering a bout of flu. The same illness, it has emerged today, has ruled Henry Castle out of his English lightweight title challenge to Scott Lawton. Finally, Mark Thompson’s Commonwealth welterweight title eliminator against Philip Kotey had to be shelved after Thompson broke his hand in sparring. At least Maloney’s bill still goes ahead with local man Chris Edwards’ clash with Wayne Bloy for the vacant British and Commonwealth flyweight crowns.
Mick Hennessy endured similar heartache on last week’s show in Wigan. Lenny Daws’ challenge to Scott Haywood for the English light-welter crown was canned when Haywood relinquished his title to challenge Ajose Olusegun for the Commonwealth title in Barnsley on February 27 (well, here’s hoping, eh?). A hastily arranged match-up between Daws and Dean Harrison for the vacant title was made only for Daws to then withdraw due to his inability to make the 10st championship weight limit.
A recent addition to this unwelcome list has seen Martin Lindsay pull-out of his mouthwatering British featherweight title meeting with Paul Appleby after the Belfast man injured a rib in training. The battle between the unbeaten stars, originally scheduled for March 7, will now take place on April 25. Hayemaker promote.
As the saying goes, things can only get better.
