Celebrity Boxing KO'd

Updated:06:45, Wednesday January 29, 2003

Celebrity TV boxing bouts have been KO'd after fight authorities left BBC chiefs on the ropes.

Celebrity boxers Darren Day and Donal Macintyre

The British Boxing Board of Control had been angry at the three-round tussles in BBC2's The Fight and asked the corporation to call them off.

The BBC said that competitors had been asked to stop training and further bouts were on hold.

Political punches

Former Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley and political reporter John Pienaar had been due next in the ring.

The BBBC had summoned trainers for the bouts to a hearing and threatened to revoke their licences.

The body had said the bouts were dangerous and promoted unlicensed fighting.

A BBC spokeswoman said tonight: "Our record for safety and working with the best in the business has been paramount throughout production of BBC2's The Fight.

Charity

"So it is with regret that without the backing of the boxing authorities we have asked our celebrities to stop training, and put plans for the remaining bouts on hold.

"We are extremely proud of the programmes and our celebrity boxers and the contributions they have made to charity."

Hadley said: "It's a great pity that the fight has been cancelled. John Pienaar and I have been really enjoying the training and were reaching a high level of fitness."

The BBC has already screened bouts between Bob Mortimer and Les Dennis, and Ricky Gervais and Grant Bovey.