BOXING promoter Eddie Hearn pulled the fight between British rivals Aqib Fiaz and Kane Baker due to irregular betting patterns.
The super-featherweight rematch was due to take place on the undercard of Tyler Denny vs Felix Cash in Birmingham on Saturday night.
Eddie Hearn pulled the fight between Aqib Fiaz and Kane BakerGetty
Fiaz, left, and Baker, right, have both denied any involvement in the alleged betting irregularitiesGetty
But just hours before the show got underway, Hearn‘s promotional company Matchroom Boxing confirmed the bout would not be going ahead.
The statement read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances Aqib Fiaz vs. Kane Baker 2 is off.
“Before The Bell now begins at 4:45pm with the first fight at 5:15pm. The live DAZN broadcast begins at 7pm as originally planned.”
Hearn then revealed after the show the reason behind the cancellation was due to betting irregularities.
Speaking to Boxing Social, he said: “Once I got the information I investigated it. I did that myself, I did that with my team, I did that with the gambling commission and I made the decision to pull the fight.
“When I did that I spoke to the British Boxing Board of Control, I told them everything I had done and said I’m going to pull the fight.
“They agreed with me and now it will be over to them to carry out their own investigation.
“In 15 years I’ve never dealt with a situation like this. Pre-fight, two weeks out, 16 weeks before, never ever, it was a new one for me. It’s very disappointing.
“The truth will come out, but all the information that I was given at the time made me feel extremely uncomfortable and resulted in me pulling the fight.”
Both fighters have since claimed to have had no involvement in the alleged betting activity.
Fiaz, who beat Baker in their first fight in 2020, posted: “Tonight’s fight was cancelled due to a situation I was unaware of and had no involvement in. There is an ongoing investigation.
“I have been advised to make no comments at this time.”
While Baker said: “People chatting s*** about the interview and fans saying I pulled out.
“I am an honest fighter. You all know me. You know what I’m about. I take hard fights and leave it in the ring.
“All I do is earn for my family what I can. I am no cheat. I have never and would never bet against myself to lose a fight no matter how much I am pressured.
“I am happy for the investigation to go ahead and happy for anyone around me to be investigated.
“My whole career can be investigated. NOBODY from Team Baker has done any betting. Nobody in my team has agreed to me losing any fight.
“I don’t give a f*** what the other team says. I would never take a dive for no c***.”