By Edward Chaykovsky
Two of the top British promoters, Frank Warren and Frank Maloney, have exchanged words over Lee McAllister's seven round TKO loss last Saturday night in Scotland. After injuring his left arm, junior welterweight McAllister, who was being dominated, sat on his stool and refused to move forward with his bout against European champion Denis Shafikov.
Maloney believes McAllister should have tried to fight on and disagrees with the way he bowed out.
"He might have had a bad hand but you can still win a fight with one hand – that is my belief. I’m not in the ring so I don’t know what pain was going up his shoulder," Maloney told The Scotsman.
“I have never seen anyone quit like that in the corner when fighting for a title. He had an opportunity to shine and I know he got injured but it’s a very disappointing ending.”
When Maloney made the remarks, he was unaware that McAllister's left arm is likely going to finish his boxing career. A medical scan indicated torn tendons below the elbow. He suffered the same injury in the past and it kept him out of the ring for 14 months.
McAllister said: “The injury is the same as the one which cost me 14 months out before – the tendons have been ripped from the elbow. I cannot have another 14 months out, then start at the bottom again at 30 years old. If the scan proves positive then it might change my thoughts, but at the moment it is not looking good.”
Warren was offended by Maloney's comments about McAllister.
“What do you expect from Frank Maloney?” said Warren. “I would never be critical of a fighter like that. Sometimes he speaks without thinking. What Frank Maloney said is his bag. The sport has taken a bit of flak over the past few weeks, but where I’m coming from is that I like to see the good about boxing, and that is Ricky Burns, an absolute gentleman and a credit to boxing and sport. Ricky and Nathan Cleverly – they’re the side of the sport we should be celebrating.”
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