Wayne cleared and set to fight

BOXING: Former WBA world bantamweight champion and 1992 Olympic silver medallist Wayne McCullough has been granted a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) after over two years of disagreements and legal wrangling.

He now looks set to fight again as early as August, and promoter Frank Warren said he hopes to eventually line him up for another crack at a world title.

McCullough, who was denied a licence by the British board when a cyst was discovered on his brain following a routine scan two years ago, has already had one fight in the US, where he was passed fit to compete. He made a successful comeback against American fighter Alvin Brown in California but was then denied the opportunity to fight in the UK, including his home town of Belfast, where his appeal would have been much greater.

Medical experts, including the BBBC's own neurologist had said the cyst was benign and had probably been in place throughout his boxing career.

McCullough is set to be promoted by Warren, who said: "He's a world-class fighter and still has the ability to be world champion."

He added: "Now I want to see him boxing again in August and then we can start thinking about a world title fight. The WBO featherweight title will be contested between Juan Pablo Chacon and Scott Harrison, hopefully in September, and then we'll get Wayne a shot at the winner."

McCullough is expected to box on the supporting bill to a defence by WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe, set for Cardiff on August 17th.