The British Boxing Board of Control denies it is blocking the professional debut of heavyweight Abner Teixeira, a two-time Olympian, as is being reported by the Brazilian’s manager.
The 29-year-old, who won bronze at the 2020 Games, had expected to take on Dan Garber on the April 4 undercard of Derek Chisora-Deontay Wilder at London, England’s O2 Arena but complications arose when an application to box was made to the Board.
“The Board has said that Abner has to fight in his home country of Brazil first before boxing over here,” the boxer’s manager Sal Jobe told TalkSport. “So he’s going to fight in Brazil, probably around the same date.
“It’s a real shame this has happened the way it has because it was a massive opportunity for Abner to introduce himself to the British fans.
“He was fuming when he heard, as he should be, because he is someone who genuinely trains six days a week and he’s been doing that consistently, non-stop for over a year, preparing for his debut.”
However, reports that there is a BBBoC rule that forbids overseas boxers making their debut in Britain are not quite true, Robert Smith of the Board told BoxingScene.
“It’s not a rule, it’s a policy,” Smith said. “Every case is taken on its own merit. We have requested further information from his team, but we have not received that information. If we do receive it, and it’s not like we’re being pressed on this, we will consider his application.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s not on the bill.”
Teixeira won bronze in Tokyo, a campaign which saw him defeat Cheavon Clarke in his first match. Injuries blighted his preparation for the Paris Olympics where he was pipped by Gerlon Congo in the preliminaries.
