In an unforeseen turn of events, the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield will not witness the WBA Continental Lightweight title defense by Reece Mould against challenger Martin McDonagh. The Kent boxer, McDonagh, has had to withdraw from tonight’s title fight due to last-minute medical advice.
The new arena was set to see Doncaster’s rising star, Mould, make the first defense of his title. However, the timelines set by the BBBofC didn’t allow for a suitable replacement, and Mould, having mentally and physically prepared for a championship fight, didn’t want to settle for an eight-round bout, resulting in his decision to pull out of tonight’s card.
While this may have dampened the spirits of many, there’s still a silver lining. Emma Dolan’s Commonwealth Super-Flyweight title defense against Nicola Hopewell, which was the chief supporting contest, is now elevated to the position of the main event. The undercard remains unchanged, ensuring fans will still get their share of boxing action tonight.
Promoter Izzy Asif, CEO of GBM Sports, while understanding the gravity and confidentiality of McDonagh’s medical condition, is fully in support of the decision. Expressing his sentiments, Asif remarked, “It’s indeed disappointing to lose the fight between Reece and Martin. However, boxer’s health remains paramount in our sport. With the Commonwealth Title bout between Emma and Nicola, we have a showstopper in its own right, and it will headline tonight. Moreover, the rest of the lads on the undercard will still get their chance in the ring.”
For fans eager to catch all the action, the GBM Sports show ‘Clash On The Courts’ will be live-streamed on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube Channel starting at 1815hrs. Make sure to tune in here to not miss any moment of the high-octane bouts lined up for the evening.