It?s a tale of woe that will, hopefully, end well.
With Derry Matthews set to fight for the WBA interim world lightweight title tonight, in Liverpool, his promoter Frank Warren has given an insight into the problems he?s had putting the top-of-the-bill fight together.
You may recall that Richar Abril, the WBA champion, was set to fight Anthony Crolla in a defence of the belt. Unfortunately, Crolla had to withdraw after being the recipient of a beating after he tried to intervene in a burglary on his neighbours property.
Trying to save the show, Warren drafted in Derry Matthews to take on the Cuban fighter. But, unfortunately, Warren received news that Abril had pulled out of the fight after picked up a bout of dengue fever caused by a mosquito bite.
The fight was postponed and rescheduled for tonight but once again word came through from Abril?s camp that he was pulling out, citing a recurrence of his previous ailment.
Warren complained to the WBA ad Abril was subsequently stripped of his title. Matthews was now to be pitched in against another opponent, a fighter called Ismael Barroso, a Venezuelan fighter who has a record of 17 wins with 16 coming by way of knockout.
But still there was trouble ahead with Barroso unable to obtain a visa to enter the UK with the problem becoming apparent as late as last Wednesday. Some feverish work, to find another replacement opponent, saw Warren persuade Tony Luis, ranked #9 by the WBA sign up for the fight.
As luck would have it Luis was in training preparing to defend his WBC Continental Americas belt . Luis has a record that reads 109-2 and will believe he can grab the interim belt on offer tonight.
Who?d be a boxing promoter!
Who?d be a Boxing Promoter?
