In a surprising turn of events, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has pulled the highly anticipated rematch between British rivals Aqib Fiaz and Kane Baker. The bout, scheduled to be part of the undercard for the Tyler Denny vs. Felix Cash event in Birmingham, was abruptly canceled just hours before the show due to irregular betting patterns.

Irregular Betting Patterns Force Cancellation

The cancellation was confirmed by Hearn's promotional company, Matchroom Boxing, which released a statement citing "unforeseen circumstances" as the reason. Shortly after, Hearn revealed that the decision was made following the discovery of suspicious betting activity.

"Once I got the information, I investigated it. I did that myself, with my team, and the gambling commission. I made the decision to pull the fight," Hearn stated. "The British Boxing Board of Control agreed with me, and now it will be over to them to carry out their own investigation."

Fighters Deny Involvement

Both Fiaz and Baker have vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged betting scandal. Fiaz, who had previously beaten Baker in their first encounter in 2020, took to social media to express his surprise and disappointment.

"Tonight's fight was cancelled due to a situation I was unaware of and had no involvement in. There is an ongoing investigation," Fiaz posted.

Baker also released a statement, defending his integrity and distancing himself from any wrongdoing.

"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," Baker said. "Nobody from Team Baker has done any betting. Nobody in my team has agreed to me losing any fight."

A First for Hearn

Eddie Hearn, a veteran in the boxing promotion industry, admitted that this situation was a first in his 15-year career.

"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," Hearn concluded.

What’s Next?

As the British Boxing Board of Control begins its investigation, the future of both fighters remains uncertain. This incident has cast a shadow over what was expected to be an exciting night of boxing, leaving fans and pundits alike eager for answers.

Editor: Emiliia Morozova