BoxRec

James Metcalf has been crying out for a big opportunity.

The Commonwealth super-welterweight champion has boxed just once since winning the title back in June last year.

Metcalf stopped Jason Welborn in Leeds and followed up his biggest win to date with a spell on the sidelines to repair a hand injury.

He was back last month and took just 32 seconds to get rid of the vastly overmatched Jan Balog at the Grand Central Hall in his home city of Liverpool to move to 21-0 with 13 quick.

But the big opportunity that the 31-year-old craves could well come next after the British Boxing Board of Control ordered him to challenge Scott Fitzgerald for the British title in the 154-pound division.

Fitzgerald, who had originally been set to rematch Metcalf’s fellow Liverpudlian Anthony Fowler after returning on May 2 at Manchester Arena, won the Lonsdale belt last October when he outpointed Ted Cheeseman at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.

The fight has been put out to purse bids by the Board and must take place by the end of July, with it being understood that the aforementioned Fowler will meet undefeated WBC International Silver champion Kieran Smith, from Greenrigg, Scotland, in a final eliminator.

Meanwhile, Reece Mould’s featherweight British title challenge against long-time champion Ryan Walsh has once again been delayed. Walsh, who is in the final of the MTK Golden Contract tournament, is injured, according to the latest notices, but the fight against Mould must take place by the end of April or the belt will be declared vacant and the winner must waive grace and defend against former Commonwealth and WBA International champion Jordan Gill when called upon to do so.

At welterweight, Liam Taylor is inexplicably forced to wait for his rematch against Chris Jenkins –– who also holds the Commonwealth title and will defend both titles against Johnny Garton in a rematch on April 11 at the O2 Arena in London, exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office, as part of the supporting cast to the five-belt heavyweight showdown between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce –– despite a technical draw being ruled in their first fight back in November.

Instead, Conor Benn has been installed as next in line, while Taylor will challenge Ekow Essuman for the English title in a final eliminator for the British title.

And the number one middleweight with the WBO, Liam Williams, who is in negotiations to face Demetrius Andrade for a shot at the world title, will apparently meet Andrew Robinson in a defence of his British title after allegedly won purse bids and has yet to provide a date and venue.

By Elliot Foster

Don't see why they're ordering fights tbh.

So walsh is injured but has to defend his title by end of April or b stripped. How is that possible with shows being cancelled

Also it's the 3rd time Warren has won the purse bid for liam Williams v Andrew Robinson. Not in a million years is that fight happening. Date TBA wat a joke

Metcalf needs to be way more active

I think he is with MTK who have plenty of shows and money - why doesn’t he get out more?

No chance this fight happens.

Metcalf is ranked number 3 in the IBF ratings (number 2 is vacant). And Rosario is the champ of the pass the parcel title. The IBF do a lot of mandatories and final eliminators so Metcalf would be stupid not to wait for his chance which will come soon.

Fitzgerald wants the big money rematch with Fowler or a European title shot.

Steel City wrote: ↑20 Mar 2020, 18:36 No chance this fight happens.

Metcalf is ranked number 3 in the IBF ratings (number 2 is vacant). And Rosario is the champ of the pass the parcel title. The IBF do a lot of mandatories and final eliminators so Metcalf would be stupid not to wait for his chance which will come soon.

Fitzgerald wants the big money rematch with Fowler or a European title shot.

Agreed, Hearn will be aware of that too. He will no doubt try to position Fitz to be mando for Metcalf if he wins the IBF once all this virus insanity has calmed down.

If Fitzgerald wants to prove his worth as a British champion then this is the sort of challenge he should be accepting. Metcalf will bring some serious heat and fight tooth & nail to win the Lonsdale belt.

It's a terrific match up, I hope the fans don't get cheated.

Sounds like Fitzgerald has a battle outside the ring with substance misuse.

https://www.BS.com/scott-fitzg ... se--147870

Big shame if this is a problem, talented kid with a big win over Fowler. I think there had been questions about his professionalism and lifestyle. He didnt look great against Cheeseman. He just hasnt really kicked on (hope im not being too harsh) and i hope he doesnt lose his best years to distractions outside the ring.

liamlion wrote: ↑28 Mar 2020, 16:14 Sounds like Fitzgerald has a battle outside the ring with substance misuse.

https://www.BS.com/scott-fitzgeralds-fa ... se--147870

Big shame if this is a problem, talented kid with a big win over Fowler. I think there had been questions about his professionalism and lifestyle. He didnt look great against Cheeseman. He just hasnt really kicked on (hope im not being too harsh) and i hope he doesnt lose his best years to distractions outside the ring.

In the build up to the Fowler fight he looked a bit off his head!
Saying that with his amateur success and obvious talent you have to think why he wasn't signed by a big promoter and was brought in as an opponent for Fowler.
Nevertheless Fast Car has been very forgiving when it comes to signing fighters who aren't regarded as clean!

If this is the case, why hasn't he failed a drug test ?

Black Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑28 Mar 2020, 18:29 If this is the case, why hasn't he failed a drug test ?

Maybe he’s never been tested. Who knows.

He’s recently been in rehab Fitz for gambling, drugs and alcohol. Moved to London, presumably to get away from that stuff up North and did a video last night saying now he’s feeling good and is ‘clean’ from those 3 things. Hope he sorts his head out - 154 isn’t the strongest division and there’s some good domestic fights to be had in that division. Fitz, Fowler, Cheeseman, Josh Kelly if he moves up, Kell, Liam Smith.

Fight your mandatory or vacate.

What's up with this guy.

Comes out of jail and 'accidentally' called out Darren Till.

Not good....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sport ... riend.html

Shhhh wrote: ↑01 Apr 2020, 14:03

liamlion wrote: ↑01 Apr 2020, 08:30 Not good....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sport ... riend.html

Still off his nut 24h later? Or did he just pick up?

Seemingly an impulsive lad, with not a full grasp on reality. Quite sad.

Wow he was really fired up in that video, is he always like that?

Scott Fitzgerald Boxing License Suspended Due To Arrest

According to BBC Sport, British champion Scott Fitzgerald has had his boxing license suspended after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman. The British Boxing Board of Control decided to suspend Fitzgerald's license, but there will be further investigation into the incident.

As BS.com previously reported, the 28-year-old fighter was arrested on Monday in Preston and bailed until May 21.

When reached by media, Lancashire Police confirmed a 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault in the Ryelands Crescent area on Monday. The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner confirmed the arrest on Instagram.

Fitzgerald currently holds the British junior middleweight title and was being positioned by his promoter, Eddie Hearn, in the direction of a fight against Anthony Fowler or Ted Cheeseman.

At the moment, the sport of boxing is at a standstill due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The British Board has canceled all boxing events for April and May.

The British Board has been busy, even with the sport in limbo. On Monday, they suspended the boxing license of WBO super middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders for releasing a training video where he jokingly advised men how to hit their female partners during the lockdown.

Saunders would later apologize for the video and claimed that it was nothing more than a joke.

He’s been charged with 3 counts of assault (2 of the victims are women) plus one count if witness intimidation

Drop his violent coked up arse Eddeh! Take no easy 'apologies' or 'mental health' fallbacks

I did see the Instagram videos and wondered what the hell was going on. Then Hearns interview in the last few days say he recently came out of rehab.

Seemingly he beat Fowler and Cheeseman in close contests and was on the piss at the same time.

What are MTK doing for their fighters ? Are they not meant to be managing their careers ?

Not much things sadder in boxing than wasted talent.

Black Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑02 Apr 2020, 13:56 What are MTK doing for their fighters ? Are they not meant to be managing their careers ?

I know, you would think that such a fine upstanding organisation would frown upon such a thing

Well, Chas Coakley, Marcus McDonnell, and Kieran McCann all judged him to have comprehensively beaten rehab and be no threat to others