Steve Bendall is training hard for a mandatory British title challenge to Battersea's Howard Eastman next month - not even knowing if the fight is to take place! The date for the fight has already been put back from March 6 to March 12, and Bendall claims he hasn't even been informed of the switch by the promoter of the event, Mick Hennessy, learning about it instead from impartial boxing sources.
Now the unbeaten Bendall fears Eastman is going to pull out altogether to concentrate on a WBC final eliminator with Cristian Sanavia of Italy.
"There has already been much written in the national papers and said on television indicating that the fight is off," he said. "But I have to carry on as normal. I haven't let the uncertainly affect my training too much."
Simon Block, of the British Boxing Board of Control, said: "I am aware that the main schedule for March 6 has been put back a week until March 12.
"As far as we are concerned at this time there is a contract between Howard Eastman, Steve Bendall and the promoter Mick Hennessey that this contest will go ahead on March 12."
Bendall continued: "It's good the board of control are saying the fight is going ahead but I am not convinced of it at the moment."
What a shambles. Amateur hour in Dixie.