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Tuesday, 5 November, 2002, 19:13 GMT
Smith loses licence
Darkie Smith is restrained by his son after pushing Micky Vann
Darkie Smith is restrained by his son Stephen
Darkie Smith has had his trainer's licence revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control after causing his son Stephen to be disqualified against Ricky Hatton.

Smith climbed into the ring during the second round of his son's WBU light welterweight title fight against champion Hatton in September and pushed referee Micky Vann.

The trainer claimed that his son had been head-butted and elbowed by Hatton, who was then awarded the fight by disqualification.

Promoter Frank Warren later called for a percentage of Smith's purse to be withheld.


The father in me took over from the cornerman and with hindsight maybe I shouldn't have worked that night
Darkie Smith

The BBBC have ruled that 10% of the purse will be withheld - and given to the Board's charitable trust - and also awarded �2,000 damages to Warren.

They have withdrawn his licence due to "unacceptable" behaviour, although he could re-apply for a permit in a year's time.

A BBBC statement read: "The conduct of Darkie Smith was unacceptable as he himself admitted.

"It was therefore determined that 10% of the purse be withheld permanently and that all licences held by Darkie Smith be withdrawn henceforth."

Smith, who has held licences since 1960, had earlier apologised for his actions in a letter to Boxing News.

"After 42 years in boxing I know that it has all finished," he said. "I don't know what I'll do now.

"I'd like to apologise for everything that happened - but most of all I'd like to say sorry to my son.

"I can't excuse what I did, only try to explain. When I got into the ring I truly believed the fight had been stopped.

"When my son said 'please dad, get out', it was only then that I realised it had not been stopped. I then got out of the ring.

"I know the father in me took over from the cornerman and with hindsight maybe I shouldn't have worked that night.

"Yes, I am a professional and what I did was wrong. But I'm also a person with feelings and know when someone's in danger."

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 ON THIS STORY
BBC Sport's John Rawling
"Steven Smith felt he was penalised unfairly"
See also:

30 Sep 02 | Boxing
28 Sep 02 | Boxing
09 Feb 02 | Boxing
Links to more Boxing stories are at the foot of the page.


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