Matchroom Boxing provides updates on upcoming fight schedule
With the COVID-19 pandemic still wreaking havoc around the globe, Matchroom Boxing has officially postponed all of its May boxing cards.
Matchroom Boxing postponed all of their boxing bouts scheduled for May due to the coronavirus pandemic. All contests were to take place in the U.K., but government requirements forced Matchroom to delay their May plans. Some of their matches already have new dates.
Originally, heavyweights Dillian Whyte (27-1, 18 KOs) and Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) were supposed to meet on May 2 at the Manchester Arena in a WBC interim title bout. That contest has been moved to Saturday, July 4, at the same venue.
Former featherweight titlist Lee Selby (28-2, 9 KOs) was supposed to face undefeated George Kambosos Jr. (18-0, 10 KOs) in an IBF lightweight title eliminator on May 9 in Cardiff, Wales. Instead, they will clash on Saturday, July 11, at the Motorpoint Arena the weekend following Whyte vs. Povetkin.
The only postponed fight that lacks a new date is the highly anticipated heavyweight contest between former undisputed cruiserweight champion turned heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) and Dereck Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs). They were slated to meet on Saturday, May 23. Matchroom is working towards a new date for Usyk vs. Chisora and addressed their efforts in a press release.
“A new date for Usyk’s blockbuster Heavyweight showdown with Chisora is also being worked on, with tickets remaining valid for the rescheduled date once announced and refunds available from your point of purchase,” Matchroom said in their press release.
The news of Matchroom’s postponements isn’t a surprise. The sporting world is at a standstill, along with most other social functions globally due to COVID-19. Most boxing promotional companies hope that business will return to normal by June or July, but the world is taking the pandemic one day at a time.
This is uncharted territory, and every industry is having to adjust due to the unique threat of COVID-19.
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For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.