TORNADO SHIFTS
The Tartan Tornado was set to put his IBF super- l ightweight belt on the l ine against WBA champ Regis Prograis in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Final.
But the American has pulled out of the bout, pencilled in for October 5 in Manchester, and lodged a lawsuit against tournament organiser Comosa AG in the US.
That leaves Taylor without an opponent – although the event’s chiefs insist the pair will fight.
Former three-weight world champ Burns had already been touted when Taylor’s semi-final foe Ivan Baranchyk threatened to withdraw in the build-up.
The Belarusian and Taylor met at the Hydro in May as the Scot won his first world title and made it 15 pro fights unbeaten.
Burns’ promoter Eddie Hearn has been unable to conclude deals for fights in Glasgow this autumn against Jorge Linares or Lee Selby, with the Rickster now out of the ring nine months. Prograis and his promoter Lou DiBella declared the suit is “the result of a long and repeated pattern of behaviour by Comosa that includes late payments, scheduling delays, bad faith representations, missed deadlines and broken promises”. A statement from Comosa AG said: “WBSS strenuously denies that it has violated any contractual obligation towards Regis Prograis or DiBella Entertainment Inc. The WBSS has enforced its tournament contracts in the past and will do so again with all resources available if needed. We look forward to the upcoming Final of the super lightweights for the Ali Trophy between Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor, which promises to be a spectacular boxing night.”