Abubaker Dubai win marred by levy row

Abubaker. Board of Control say he no longer wants to box

AMIR ABUBAKER’S latest blast-out has been lost in the sands of Dubai amid a row over sanctioning fees.

It’s a stand-off that has placed a question mark over the contender’s career.  Abubaker has told the British Boxing Board of Control he no longer wants to box, a spokesman for the governing body stated.

The third round victory over Kenyan Ariembi Isalah Odhiambo, which took place in the gleaming city’s Agenda Arena, can be viewed on YouTube. It definitely happened.

But the result has not been added to the Coventry puncher’s record or placed on pro boxing directory BoxRec. It has not been recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The scheduled six rounder, which took place on December 3, has become the fight that never was.

That’s because Abubaker failed to pay the Board the fee – a levy - required before boxing overseas, his manager Anthony Manning confirmed. The payment is for insurance and medical cover.

And in a short message, former Midlands light-middleweight champ Amir, who is still in Dubai, told me: “Think I’ve been banned from boxing. Got hit with some crazy fees I couldn’t afford - came to £3,000 plus.

“Couldn’t afford to pay and the fight wasn’t added to BoxRec, so I think the BBBofC have removed it/banned me. I’m not sure, haven’t been back to the UK yet.”

Robert Smith, general secretary of the Board of Control, has been quick to clarify the situation. Abubaker is suspended, not banned. The Board levy was only £200. The nature of the other “fees” are unknown.

“Boxers have to apply to fight abroad, in this case he just went and did it,” Mr Smith said.

And in a bombshell, Mr Smith said a report on the case states Abubaker has refused to pay “because he no longer wishes to box”.

That will come as a shock to manager Manning who is hopeful of landing an English title fight for 25-year-old Amir. “The payment should’ve been made sharpish,” he said. Manning did not travel to Dubai for the contest.

The bout with Odhiambo, a 38-year-old who has won three of 12 and been stopped twice, hardly merited the controversy that followed.

He started ambitiously and got through with a couple of swinging rights as Abubaker, having his first fight since being stopped by Carl Fail, stalked for openings.

The ambition quickly evaporated as Abubaker unloaded with his own rights in the second. Odhiambo took a knee in a neutral corner, rising at four, and again sought the safety of the canvas seconds before the bell.

Abubaker landed a solid right at the start of the third, Odhiambo again sunk to the floor on one knee and the bout was stopped when he rose. Time: 46 seconds of the session.

Odhiambo didn’t look like a man prepared to go out on his shield.

That was Abubaker’s 10th win in 11 fights – and if the Iraq born crowd-pleaser walked away now it would be a big loss to the Midlands fight scene.

But worryingly his facebook message to me signed-off with: “The end of the Kurdish Knockout King.”

Hopefully, he forgot to place a question mark at the end of that sentence.