McCullough comeback derailed by Ian McNeilly Nov 30th 2007

Former world champion Wayne McCullough's comeback fight, scheduled for tomorrow night in Belfast, has been derailed. The whole King's Hall show has fallen through after European super-bantamweight champion, Kiko Martinez, failed to make the agreed 8st 12lbs weight for the non-title fight. McCullough, inactive for more than two years, weighed in at 8st 8¾ lbs, and refused an offer to take the fight with Martinez weighing 8st 13½lbs. Pat Magee, who was promoting the show with Dennis Hobson's Fight Academy, explains: “McCullough-Martinez was made two pounds over the super-bantamweight limit due to the Board's reluctance to allow Wayne to compete at 8st 10lbs because of his inactivity. “Wayne weighed in at 8st 8¾ lbs to prove a point to the Board - to show he still has the attitude necessary to compete at this level.” When Martinez came in overweight, Magee approached Team Martinez to see if their man could lose the weight. The answer came in the negative; McCullough was asked to reconsider and, perhaps wisely, refused.  Money was allegedly offered but didn't help.  Magee then tried to save the show by offering both McCullough and Martinez new opponents but, understandably, a deflated McCullough didn't want to pursue this option. It seems an official enquiry into these events is inevitable.

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