With the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) recently re-mandating the British flyweight title fight between Tommy Frank and Sheffield rival, Kyle Yousaf – promoter Dennis Hobson has updated on the situation.
Frank and Yousaf were due to contest the Lonsdale Belt on the UK’s first ever drive-in boxing show last December but, with Yousaf withdrawing from the contest, Frank suffered his first loss after injury forced him to retire after eight rounds against substitute opponent, Mexico’s Hugo Guarneros.
Despite that defeat, all parties – including the Board, Hobson and Frank – are keen to get the original British Title fight rearranged, with Dennis setting the wheels in motion immediately after the Guarneros contest.
The current lockdown restrictions are obviously having a significant impact on all sports – including boxing – but Hobson is cautiously optimistic that the fight will soon be headlining a Sheffield show.
“Within 48 hours of Tommy losing that IBF fight, we’d put a provisional show together for March,” explained the Fight Academy boss. “We said to Robert Smith at the Board that we still wanted the British Title fight, even though Kyle [Yousaf] had pulled out on us a few times. I wanted to make sure the Board were going to honour that situation, and they gave us the nod straight away.
“Obviously that provisional March date will possibly have to move now because of this new lockdown situation. So, I’m just trying to secure a date but I think we might be looking at the first week in April. It might have to be another drive-in show, or even something different, but I’m gambling that by April we’ll be allowed some spectators, even if it’s not full capacity.
“Kyle is supposed to sell a few tickets, and Tommy does, so we’d really like a good atmosphere there when it happens, because it’s a great fight. It will be another strong show. We’re also currently doing various co-promotional deals with other promoters across the UK about putting on regular TV shows, so don’t be surprised if you see some different lads from other parts of the country on too.”