The undercard fighters for Conor Benn's showdown with Chris Eubank Jr have been left fuming after losing out on their fight purses.
Benn was set to meet Eubank Jr tomorrow night at London's O2 arena in a huge pay-per-view bill which featured the likes of Lyndon Arthur, Felix Cash and Shannon Courtenay. However the fight was left in jeopardy after Benn failed a VADA drug test despite the promoters and fighters insisting the event would take place.
After exploring various avenues following the British Boxing Board of Control's decision to "prohibit" the event, an official statement was released yesterday confirming that the fight was postponed. Several undercard fighters were then left with the reality of losing out on their purses, which are essential to cover the cost of their training, diet and travel.
The situation was beyond their control with the main event deemed a unique selling point to keep the event on at the sold-out venue. And a whole host of undercard fighters reacted in frustration to the cancellation including female star Courtenay who posted on Instagram : "Worked harder than ever this camp to come back after two huge operations.
"Got back into great shape and felt better than ever so for this to happen I am hugely devastated. This training camp has cost me a lot of money. Travel, accommodation, nutrition and sparring! The list goes on and I won't get any compensation. Get me a fight date ASAP!"
She later confirmed that she was uncertain whether she would miss her planned holiday on Monday, adding in a video: "I packed my bags this morning and I am going to head back into training camp. I'm hopeful I'm going to get a fight in a few weeks but I am waiting to get that confirmed. I'm supposed to be going away Monday and I'm like do I get on the plane or do I not?
"I don't know what to do; everything is so up in the air. I am so sick of the bull**** politics in boxing to be honest." Fellow female star Ellie Scotney who was also due to fight on the bill wrote in separate tweets: "I HATE boxing sometimes. Man. I was so ready to fight." She then responded when asked if she would receive compensation, tweeting: "Zero. A fighter with no sponsorship backing too!"
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Undercard fighter Chloe Watson and Scotney's nutritionist Pete James Bell also added: "Through no fault of their own Ellie Scotney and Chloe Watson are not fighting. People don't see what boxers go through during camp to make it to fight night. The training and diet is serious work and it requires extreme sacrifice.
"Not to mention the cost of camps, physios, food, sparring, training and living expense costs. To then be stolen the opportunity to earn a living. Boxing can be a right s***house at times." Other fighters tried to remain positive despite their huge frustration with chief support Cash writing: Gutted to hear that the fight is OFF!! But I’m ready to fight after another hard training camp."
Eubank Jr's cousin Harlem, who was set to fight on the card, also wrote: "GUTTED I’m not fighting this weekend, but essential the sport we love is kept CLEAN." Heavyweight prospect Matty Harris also added: "Absolutely heartbroken and for anyone asking the fight is off. Hope to be out fighting again ASAP."
The series of fighters who missed out on their huge opportunity on the card may now instead look to feature on alternative cards including Katie Taylor's ring return later this month. It remains unclear if the event will be rescheduled any time soon, but promoters Kalle Sauerland and Eddie Hearn appear determined to find a way of getting the fight on.
