Coley ‘gutted’ as big fight suffers late KO

Coley with manager Anthony Manning (left) and trainer Thomas

FOR those not closely involved in the pro game, it’s hard to explain how crushing the late cancellation of a title fight is for those involved.

The graft, the blood, the sweat, the money spent – all for nothing. Weeks and weeks in a strict training camp simply wasted.

I know the sacrifices that need to be made. And my heart goes out to unbeaten flyweights Brad Thompson and Brad Coley whose Midlands title fight, scheduled for this Saturday at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms, hit the rocks only eight days before the mouthwatering showdown. The show, promoted by BCB, will go on without the original main event.

Donnington’s Thompson was forced to pull out after suffering a chest infection.

As a fan, I’m disappointed by the loss of a superb scrap. Thompson and Coley must be devastated: as well as everything else, the cash would’ve been much needed at this time of year.

James Thomas, who trains Birmingham’s Coley, was emotional and deflated when I spoke to him: deflated enough to question his involvement in the sport.

“Absolutely gutted,” he said. “I’m sure I’ve been told they’re now looking at a date around March time, but I’ve been that disappointed I haven’t got into the ins and outs of it all.

“I haven’t been able to work for months (Thomas is a bricklayer by trade) because I’ve been training with Brad three times a day. With Brad, he’ll have his time off and we’ll see what he wants to do in January. He’s very down, but he’s come too far to turn back.

“It’s been a five year wait for an opportunity to come our way. He’s had to build from nothing.”

For Thomas, the setback has underlined the financial struggles small hall boxing – and those on the circuit - face. It’s a world a long way from the glitz of televised arena shows.

He said: “The small hall fighters who graft every week are not getting the opportunities. Everything is telling me to get out and go back to work, but, for me and Brad, boxing is our life. I want to help boxers. It (the sport) should be pulling people like me into boxing, not pushing us away.”

In a social media post, Coley told supporters: “Eight days out from the biggest fight of my career, after 10 weeks of pushing my body and mind to the limit, my opponent has pulled out and the fight is off.

“I am gutted - there's no point pretending otherwise. I've sacrificed time and money all without sponsors. I’ve done countless hours in the gym preparing to put on a show for you all.”

In a statement, BCB said: “Due to illness, Bradley Thompson has been forced to withdraw from his Midlands area flyweight title fight against Brad Coley, which was scheduled for Saturday at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.

“Both boxers had been training hard ahead of their first title shot so naturally are disappointed about this unavoidable postponement. The rest of the card will continue as scheduled.”