I do hope this is not a sign of things to come concerning SKY's Boxing coverage. It;s not fair on the fighters or us fans.
TV BLOW FOR FIGHTER
12:00 - 10 July 2004
Plans to show Scott Dann's British middleweight title fight on live TV look to have fallen through. The Plymouth boxer's bout with Steve Bendall was originally scheduled for September 4, with Sky Sports set to screen the clash.
But the date was scrapped by Sky because it coincides with England's football World Cup qualifier in Austria.
"Dynamite" Dann's manager, Chris Sanigar, said a new date for the fight - which is expected to attract a capacity crowd at the Plymouth Pavilions - will now be set next Friday.
But he told Herald Sport: "I am not holding out too much hope of the fight being on Sky.
"There is no deal at the moment and we are still waiting for them to get back to us.
"The fight will definitely be in September, but not on the fourth because everyone will want to watch the football.
"We can't hang around. The most important thing is getting the fight on in Plymouth so the home fans can see Scott box."
The bout will be the biggest held in Plymouth for many years, with a sell-out 1,750 crowd expected.
Dann is aiming to become the city's first British champion since Harry 'Bugler' Lake won the bantamweight title in 1923.
He said it was a 'dream come true' to be able to fight for the British title, which has been relinquished by world championship hopeful Howard Eastman, in Plymouth.
"I can't see getting a sell-out being a problem," said Dann. "I have boxed all over the country and I have never seen anything like the Plymouth fans.
"The atmosphere when the place is full is so electric and it gives you a 20 per cent edge. It will be very intimidating for Bendall."
Dann admitted it was frustrating that no date had been confirmed for the fight but it was out of his control.
"The most important thing is I'm putting the work in and getting in shape," said the St Judes southpaw, who boasts a 19-2 professional record.
"By next week it should all be sorted out and we will have a date.
"It is the biggest fight Plymouth has seen for a long time and all the hard work I'm putting in now will be worth it."
He added: "Bendall is a very capable fighter who has gone 21 bouts unbeaten.
"We are probably equal on boxing ability but he has never faced anyone with my sort of power.
"I think I have the most power of any middleweight in the division. It will be exciting to get in front of the home fans and feel them urging me on."
Dann became the inaugural English middleweight champion with victory in his last contest in May.
He rampaged his way to a third round stoppage win over Danny Thornton, from Leeds, at the Whitchurch Leisure Centre in Bristol.
SKY TV delay Scott Dann's next fight.
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mickeybeard
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