‘A stitch up’: Aussie boxer Liam Wilson left to weight
Darren Walton |
Luckless Australian boxer Liam Wilson has been dealt another cruel blow, with his scheduled world title eliminator against Stephen Fulton cancelled after the American failed to make weight.
In farcical scenes, Fulton hit the scales at almost 140 pounds on Saturday, almost 10 pounds more than the two-division world champion was originally supposed to fight Wilson at in Sydney.
Fulton and Wilson were supposed to square off at the super-featherweight of 130 pounds before officials on Friday raised the weight to 133 pounds for the feature bout on the blockbuster Tim Tszyu-Errol Spence Jr card.
Wilson had happily agreed to the late change, saying he was desperate to earn another world title shot with a victory over the former unified super-bantamweight world champion and ex-WBC featherweight belt holder.
But now the American’s team is being accused of never truly intending to fight on Sunday.
“This feels like a stitch up,” Wilson’s manager and Tszyu’s long-time ex-agent Glenn Jennings said.
“If you are serious and you sign a contract at 133, there is an expectation that you will deliver.
“It is not only unacceptable, it is a blight on the sport. This is professional, there is nowhere to go for this bloke now.”
Undefeated Olympian Paulo Aokuso will move to the main card, taking on Luis Tejeda from the Dominican Republic in a light-heavyweight bout.
Wilson’s fight is the second co-main event to be cancelled this week after Fulton’s fellow American Jermall Charlo was denied a visa to face rising Australian Koen Mazoudier.
AAP