Mild heavyweight contender Dan Azeez was hit with some final minute misfortune after struggling a coaching damage just a few days earlier than his scheduled conflict with Joshua Buatsi.
Azeez was pressured to withdraw with a again damage, and Saturday’s deliberate battle might be pushed again to a later date.
The bout was sanctioned as a WBA world title eliminator, with the winner being assured a crack at present world champion Dmitry Bivol.
Azeez would really like the battle to happen earlier than the 12 months is out.
“I am clearly not in the very best of spirits however it’s what it’s. The battle is off and we’re seeking to get a brand new scheduled date within the diary,” Azeez informed Sky Sports activities.
“I used to be having my final actual arduous session and after the session I may really feel a ache in my decrease again, and it bought worse and worse from there. I assumed I might be capable to take some painkillers however the restriction, I could not transfer the best way I wanted to maneuver, each standing up and sitting down. I used to be not clear to field after that.
“I do know feelings are excessive I can solely think about how he feels. Hopefully, he understands and hopefully we are able to get this on. I would actually prefer it to occur earlier than the top of the 12 months. That is what it is trying like. As soon as we get the scans and outcomes again, hopefully we are able to truly put a date to it.”
Azeez rejected a few of the circulating chatter that he fabricated the damage to stroll away from the battle attributable to points occurring behind the scenes.
“That is one of many issues that is been most upsetting. I am listening to the narrative of three weeks out. The present was going to be off however that is actually hurtful. For somebody of my integrity, the kind of fighter I’m, I might by no means, ever stage an damage,” Azeez stated.
“Folks have labored arduous to purchase a ticket to come back and other people have travelled far. I simply would not do this. It is nothing to do with Boxxer or Buatsi, bought the damage simply the opposite day. It was hurtful, particularly coming from individuals within the trade. You will have your individuals on social media and your keyboard warriors, however when you’ve got individuals within the trade who know the sport and the trade speaking about conspiracies, that is actually, actually poor. I used to be enraged. You’ve different promoters who possibly attempt to make the present not as profitable because it was going to be. It is competitors, soiled methods. Individuals who know me know I would not do this. I am a person of integrity and the game means so much to me.”
