Timekeeper in Civic row is suspended

The timekeeper at the centre of the British cruiserweight title controversy at Wolverhampton Civic Hall has been suspended from his duties until next year.

Wolverhampton's Martin Fallon has also been ordered to undergo further training by the British Boxing Board of Control, who will sanction a rematch.

Fallon's role in the first round of Enzo Maccarinelli's points win over champion Shane McPhilbin at the Civic 10 days ago sparked outrage.

McPhilbin, a 150-1 outsider to win in the first round, looked to have bucked that trend when a right hand set up a thumping left hook.

Maccarinelli was left head first on the bottom rope and answered the count on unsteady legs, evening returning to the canvas on bended knee.

Referee Ian John-Lewis cleared him to continue but Fallon called for the bell to end the first round – with 47 SECONDS of the session left to run.

The fight went the full 12 rounds, with Maccarinelli down again in the third and McPhilbin touching down in the tenth before they got to the final bell.

The title changed hands on points but the board were subsequently swamped with complaints about the fight, which was live on BoxNation.

They called an emergency meeting last week and have taken action on Fallon, who has had his licence suspended until 1 January 2013.

They also ordered a rematch must take place and have put the contest out to purse bids, with purse bids to be taken on 11 April.

Maccarinelli has also insisted that the purse for the contest be a 50-50 split, as opposed to the usual 60 per cent for the champion.