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Nick Parkinson
The suspension of professional boxing in the UK has been extended until the end of May, meaning the postponement of two big heavyweight fights: Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin and Oleksandr Usyk vs. Dereck Chisora.
The British Boxing Board of Control had previously ruled a hiatus until the end of April, but have now added another month to suspension.
BBBofC general secretary Robert Smith said in a statement: “We will continue to follow the Government and medical authorities’ advice and keep the situation under review and when possible explore all options available to find a way of lifting the suspension when conditions permit.”
Heavyweight contender Whyte, No. 1 in line to face WBC champion Tyson Fury, recently drove from London to Portugal to set up a training camp for his fight against Russia’s Povetkin. The fight was scheduled to take place at the Manchester Arena on May 2. Ireland’s Katie Taylor and New York-based Amanda Serrano, of Puerto Rico, were also due to meet in an outstanding match-up on the same bill.
Ukrainian heavyweight Usyk, No. 1 in line with the WBO belt, was due to face Chisora at the O2 Arena in south-east London on May 23.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is now bracing himself to move WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s fight against Kubrat Pulev, scheduled for June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, north London.
WBA-IBF world super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor’s defence against Thailand’s Apinun Khongsong — scheduled for May 2 in Glasgow — had already been postponed, and no new date has been announced.