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| | Tuesday, 25 June, 2002, 08:08 GMT 09:08 UK McCullough's August return McCullough last fought in January in America Wayne McCullough's return to boxing in Britain is expected to be in Cardiff on 17 August. The Belfast-born fighter was granted his licence on Monday after the British Boxing Board of Control had assessed neurological reports to satisfy themselves that he was fit to box. The former world champion had been battling with the British Board for to get permission to box again in Britain following the detection of a cyst near his brain in November 2000. He had been cleared in the United States and made a winning return to the ring earlier this year having been licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. McCullough is now expected to fight on a scheduled 17 August bill in Cardiff which will be highlighted by WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe's latest defence.
The Belfast boxer said his main emotion on hearing Monday's news had been "relief". "When my wife Cheryl told me this morning I just said:'Thank god it's over'," McCullough told BBC Sport. "I wasn't really happy because it's been such a long process. "I'm still a little angry because I gave the evidence before but didn't get the licence," added McCullough. The Belfast fighter's most recent false start was earlier this month when his new promoter Frank Warren had lined him up for a bout in Glasgow. "I could have got the licence then to but for some reason the authorities let it drag out.
"Last year, I was supposed to fight for the world title in Dublin but television wouldn't touch me because I didn't have a licence. "It's cost me a lot of money but I've got to put all that behind me now and look forward," added the boxer. McCullough is being linked with a possible contest with the winner of the upcoming WBO featherweight title contest between champion Julio Pablo Chacon and Scott Harrison. His other route to a world title could be a contest with WBC super-bantamweight fight against Willie Jorrin. "What ever path Frank Warren leads me to, I'll go down it. "I just want to stay active. Get two or three fights and then a big fight for a world title. "But the really great thing is that I'm going to be able to fight in Belfast again which will be a dream come true for me," added McCullough. | |
See also:  23 May 02 | N Ireland 25 Mar 02 | Boxing 13 Jan 02 | Boxing Top N Ireland stories now: Links to more N Ireland stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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