THREE FIGHTS, ONE NIGHT...

Boxing fans have a difficult choice to make on May 27

THERE are three top-drawer fights occuring at the end of May that exhibit excellent matchmaking and, yet again, diabolical planning.

On May 27, Lawrence Okolie will defend his WBO cruiserweight strap against Chris Billam-smith down in Bournemouth. Boxxer promote while Sky Sports televise. On the same night, in Belfast, Luis Alberto Lopez risks his IBF featherweight belt against Michael Conlan atop a BT Sport-televised, Top Rank/ Queensberry production. Also on the same night, in Manchester, the WBA featherweight title will be contested between Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood. DAZN will broadcast the Matchroom event.

Given the quality of those contests it’s a real shame that fans, who pay subscription fees for the pleasure of watching live boxing, will not be able to watch each of them live and broadcasters, who plough a lot of cash into the sport, are likely to see viewing figures compromised.

Scheduling is not as easy as people may think. There’s the availability of venues to consider, and there’s boxers to appease, but surely this is something that shouldn’t occur. And it’s not the first time. So what’s the solution? Clearly, promoters are not communicating as readily as we’d like or, perhaps more accurately, not willing to give ground to a rival. That is understandable to a degree, particularly when a promoter being asked to compromise was the first to book the date. A learned colleague made a good point this week. Perhaps it’s time for the British Boxing Board of Control to employ a mediator who can sustain good relationships with all promoters, manage a calendar, and encourage some compromise in situations like this.