Vanzie getting his own back on Warren
Posted: 08 Feb 2004, 09:22
Mark Winters has found himself an innocent party in the middle of a row between the British Boxing Board of Control and Sports Network.
The BBBC turned down promoter allegedly's bid to match Winters with Graham Earl on the York Hall bill last night for the British lightweight title because Bobby Vanzie has been mandated a crack at Earl.
Board chief Simon Block said: "The fight could have happened but not for the title otherwise that would have been breaking our rules.
"Once a fight goes out to purse bids you cannot have a title fight in the meantime."
Block insists that he would have "looked favourably on Winters fighting Earl" if it had been made known to him by Warren at the Board meeting in December when the decision was taken to make Vanzie a mandatory challenger.
The matter has caused bad blood between Warren's Sports Network organisation and the BBBC.
Andy Ayling, Warren's Director of Boxing, said: "We have a contract that says neither boxer should fight, so Vanzie should not be boxing (he boxed on the Sheffield bill on Friday) and we have placed this in the hands of our solictors.
"The whole situation has become ridiculous. Mark Winters has been denied a chance at earning money. There would have been no problem with him fighting Earl and then the winner facing Vanzie at the end of next month.
"And why Vanzie is getting the chance is unbelievable. It's getting to the point where we are wondering about the impartiality of the Board."
Vanzie, you will remember, was dropped by Sports Network (who promoted him) after he turned up late for his British title defence against Earl last July, forcing the show's schedule to be rearranged. Seems Vanzie is getting his own back inadvertently. I bet he's loving every second of this.
The BBBC turned down promoter allegedly's bid to match Winters with Graham Earl on the York Hall bill last night for the British lightweight title because Bobby Vanzie has been mandated a crack at Earl.
Board chief Simon Block said: "The fight could have happened but not for the title otherwise that would have been breaking our rules.
"Once a fight goes out to purse bids you cannot have a title fight in the meantime."
Block insists that he would have "looked favourably on Winters fighting Earl" if it had been made known to him by Warren at the Board meeting in December when the decision was taken to make Vanzie a mandatory challenger.
The matter has caused bad blood between Warren's Sports Network organisation and the BBBC.
Andy Ayling, Warren's Director of Boxing, said: "We have a contract that says neither boxer should fight, so Vanzie should not be boxing (he boxed on the Sheffield bill on Friday) and we have placed this in the hands of our solictors.
"The whole situation has become ridiculous. Mark Winters has been denied a chance at earning money. There would have been no problem with him fighting Earl and then the winner facing Vanzie at the end of next month.
"And why Vanzie is getting the chance is unbelievable. It's getting to the point where we are wondering about the impartiality of the Board."
Vanzie, you will remember, was dropped by Sports Network (who promoted him) after he turned up late for his British title defence against Earl last July, forcing the show's schedule to be rearranged. Seems Vanzie is getting his own back inadvertently. I bet he's loving every second of this.