The legendary boxing card featuring set to place this week featuring Daniel Dubois vs Joseph Parker has taken a massive blow as one fighter has pulled out amid shocking 'poisoning' claims.
On Saturday night, British heavyweight champion Dubois will defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title against former champion Parker in Saudi Arabia.
The fight will be the co-main event to the highly-anticipated rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light heavyweight rematch, with the rest of the undercard so impressive that some fans are labelling the event the best boxing card in history.
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However, one of the biggest fights on the card has been called off after shocking reports that a fighter had been 'poisoned' ahead of the event.
Before the heavyweight bout between Dubois and Parker, WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson was set to defend his belt against title challenger Floyd Schofield.
However, just days before the fight was scheduled to take place, Schofield was pulled from the card by the British Boxing Board of Control after he fell ill, but Schofield's father had another explanation.
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On a since deleted post on Schofield’s X page, which is believed to be run by his father and trainer, Floyd Schofield Snr, it was claimed that the 22-year-old contender had been 'poisoned' ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
“They poisoned my son...Shakar massage lady wiped a cream on my son.”
The account provided no evidence to back up the unsubstantiated claim, leading to Stevenson’s co-manager, Josh Dubin, hitting out at Schofield and his team.
"This fighter [Schofield] should get advised on the defamation laws in our country,” Dubin told BoxingScene
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“Saying these things that slander Shakur does not come without legal consequences. Saying that his food was poisoned will not go unrecognised. [Schofield] is being put on notice right now.
“People might think there’s a kernel of truth in these lies [regarding the poisoning] by his father, when it seems to be a way for him to make an excuse he’s not going to fight.”
Dubin added: “We’re not going to tolerate these lies and either [the Schofields] or someone on their behalf needs to publicly apologise now."
It is expected that Stevenson will remain on Saturday's fight card and instead face Brtish contender Josh Padley, who boasts an unbeaten 15-fight record.
Topics: Boxing, Joseph Parker
Ben McCrum