BoxNation pull coverage of Civic bill

Wolverhampton Civic Hall's boxing bill will not be on BoxNation after Frank Warren's television channel pulled the plug on their coverage.

Ricky Hatton's promotional company will now broadcast Friday night's show on the internet after Warren's office backed out of the running.

BoxNation had struck a deal to provide a main event and a 10-round fight between Walsall's Christopher Keane and Stephen Simmons.

The headliner saw pull outs for British cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli and Commonwealth super feather title holder Liam Walsh.

A hand injury put paid to Maccarinelli's rematch with Shane McPhilbin, while Walsh was switched to the David Haye versus Dereck Chisora card.

Christopher Keane's clash with Stephen Simmons is also off the bill, as both the Walsall fighter and his opponent are contracted to Warren.

Keane, the 2009 senior ABA super heavyweight champion, won't now meet the bronze medallist from the 2010 Commonwealth Games at all.

Both cruiserweights are contracted to Warren and there was talk Keane would instead meet Simmons in his opponent's native Scotland.

But the British Boxing Board of Control went cold on approving the bout as a British title eliminator, so Keane deemed the contest as not worth the risk.

The Civic show will go onand Rowley Regis' Jason Welborn will top the bill in a Midlands welterweight title defence against Derby's Scott Haywood.

Birmingham's Thomas Costello - against former Southern area champion Paul Morby - and Northampton's Nathan Reeve take in six-rounders.

Cannock's former Chasetown footballer Dave Egan and Stourbridge's Steven Pearce also appear, along with Tipton's Ricky Summers and Birmingham's Andrew Robinson.

The two amateur stars Ricky Summers and Andrew Robinson - both graduates of Lions ABC in Dudley - will make their professional debuts.

BoxNation's absence also means a later start time than advertised for the show, which had been due to begin at 6pm.

Doors will now open at 7pm, with boxing taking place from 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the night.

For more information, call the Civic box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.