Gurung is stripped of his super-light belt

Minaaz Gurung…now an ex champ and off big show. Pic: Aidan Hewitt

MINAAZ Gurung has been stripped of his Midlands super-lightweight title in a move his trainer branded “disgusting”.

And Lee Spare has made an official complaint over the Board of Control’s decision. “I have not been given an explanation,” the boss of Nuneaton’s Boxing Clever gym told me.

It’s a double blow for Gurung, Britain’s only pro of Nepalese heritage. He was set to face Conor Baker in a 10 round title fight on Scott Murray’s huge Friday night show at Sports Connexion, Coventry.

That was originally billed as a battle of unbeatens for the 24-year-old’s Midlands belt. A Midlands Board of Control spokesman has stressed they were never approached to sanction the contest.

Attempts to make the fight for a Commonwealth belt – either silver or international – hit the rocks because of the calibre of opposition Tipton’s Baker has faced, I’ve been told.

Baker, unbeaten in seven, did not want to box Gurung without a belt on the table and neither men will now appear on tomorrow’s 10-bout bill.

It is the third time a bout between the pair has fallen through – and third time unlucky for Minaaz who has won all six of his bouts.

They were meant to face each other last September, but Baker’s trainer wasn’t available for the date. The bout was rescheduled for February: this time a family bereavement forced the champ to pull out.

Gurung, who won the title six months ago with a dramatic stoppage of Joe Underwood Hughes, now finds himself an ex-champ without throwing a punch in anger: he has never defended his title and hasn’t fought since the Underwood Hughes victory.

To rub salt into wounds, Coventry’s Dylan Cheema and Kirk Stevens have been matched for the vacant belt and will meet next month.

Lee Spare said: “They (the Board) have not given me a single reason, I’ve made a complaint. Minaaz pulled out of the second fight because he had to travel to Nepal following a bereavement. He has never once refused any bouts and there was no mandatory defence, as far as I was aware. It’s disgusting. I just think it’s out of order.”

A senior Board official explained boxers will be stripped if “unwilling or unable” to make a defence. The Midlands arm of the governing body is committed to keeping its titles active and after a period of grace – usually around three months – champions are expected to be in action.

And the on-off Gurung-Baker saga is something of a red herring. At no stage did the Board receive purse bids for the title match-up. And, in fairness, it’s a fighter’s manager not trainer that should receive explanations.

Leo Fanthome with manager Lee Spare. In action on Friday

SPARE’S welter Leo Fanthome fights on the Sports Connexions show – a night that features the cream of Warwickshire fighting talent.

Bradley Goldsmith and Danny Quartermaine are both in Commonwealth international title action, Callum Singh returns after last June’s courageous stand against Scottish banger Lennon Mulligan, Jess Barry continues her surge towards major titles, heavyweight Joe Bourne adds beef to the bill and red-hot prospect Huey Malone will provide explosive action.

For Fanthome, the ring education continues with what appears a fairly undemanding four rounder against Luke Denyer. The Bognor Regis boxer calls himself “Lights Out”, but has lost both his professional contests.

Fanthome has a fans-friendly style and decent dig. He stepped up to six round level last September and was dropped and outpointed by Ryan Frost.

That’s his second loss in seven. Spare said: “Leo’s been sparring six and eight rounds with Tyler Rivers and you can see he’s improving. We’re working on things and getting him more fluid and relaxed.”

*The public weigh-in takes place at Eastside Boxing Gym, Coleshill, today (Thursday) at 1pm.