Skip to main content

WBN Exclusive: Don King dispute means Cleverly v Coyne won’t happen

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
‘Irish Outlaw’ opens up to WBN

Undefeated light-heavyweight contender Ryan Coyne has exclusively revealed to WBN that his fight with WBO title holder Nathan Cleverly is highly unlikely to happen due to action taken by his ex-promoter Don King.

The 30 year-old southpaw has been announced as the Welshman’s fourth title defence for the last few weeks, but has now revealed that his one-time promote King is threatening legal action towards the fight agreement.

The contest was pencilled in on the undercard of Golden Boy’s massive headline card featuring Abner Mares and Anselmo Moreno and Coyne is distraught that the opportunity may have now been taken away from him.

“I am sorry to toss a monkey wrench in things, but my fight with Nathan Cleverly is not going to happen,” Coyne told World Boxing News. “This is purely because of the spite of an evil zealot named Don King.

“I personally am 100% ready to go forward with this fight and I can’t wait to oppose Nathan Cleverly next month, but Don threatened the WBO and Frank Warren with a lawsuit and that seems to be that.

“In my eyes, my contract with him expired, but he is now claiming an extension and due to his threats to great promoters like Frank Warren and Golden Boy, it is a dreadful situation that has cost me dearly.”

It now remains to be seen whether the high-profile fight can be salvaged or whether the Saint Louis boxer will be forced to giveway from his deserved shot at the 175lb world title at Don King’s expense.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...
Read more

Rico Ramos captures world super- bantamweight title with KO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Suavecito’ scores 20th straight win over Shimoda Undefeated Californian Rico Ramos produced a world-class left hand in the seventh round of his WBA title challenge against Japan’s Akifumi Shimoda to rip the belt away from the older southpaw in his first defence. The 24 year-old looked far from a world champion in the first five rounds, only gaining a foothold in the fight in round six, but ultimately produced the equalizer in the seventh to take the crown. Shimoda, 26, will be furious with himself as he bossed the majority of the fight and was up five rounds to one on my card going into the seventh round. One lapse in concentration with only thirty seconds left in round seven and Shimoda hit the canvas. The champion tried to get up at the count of nine, but stumbled over and the referee counted him out. The now former champion stayed down for a full minute before being helped to his feet and realising he no longer held the WBA belt. Also on the card i...
Read more