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Hinckley bare knuckle fight 'postponed' | Hinckley bare knuckle fight 'postponed' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A bare knuckle boxing match that was due to take place on Saturday has been postponed, police have said. | A bare knuckle boxing match that was due to take place on Saturday has been postponed, police have said. |
More than 1,000 people were expected to attend the fight at Hinckley United's former ground, in Leicester Road. | More than 1,000 people were expected to attend the fight at Hinckley United's former ground, in Leicester Road. |
A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said the stadium's owners had decided to delay the bout due to "planning and licensing issues". | A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said the stadium's owners had decided to delay the bout due to "planning and licensing issues". |
David Tredinnick, Conservative MP for Bosworth, had said the fight was illegal and wanted it to be stopped. | David Tredinnick, Conservative MP for Bosworth, had said the fight was illegal and wanted it to be stopped. |
'Do not approve' | 'Do not approve' |
The force met the owners of the Greene King Stadium, organisers B-BAD Promotions and the local council, on Wednesday. | |
Chris Thompson, from the Greene King Stadium, said the venue's licence only covered boxing and wrestling events. | |
He said he was advised by the police that the licence could be under threat as the fight might be categorized under the rules of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). | |
MMA is a full contact sport where hitting, kicking and grappling techniques are used by competitors. | |
Venues require a different licence should they want to put on a MMA fight. | |
"Had it been bare knuckle boxing [without gloves] we'd have said no straight away," said Mr Thompson. | |
"But we're working with police and we want to do everything correctly." | |
Leicestershire Police said the legality of the sport was a "grey area" but if gloves or wraps were not used then it would be against the law. | Leicestershire Police said the legality of the sport was a "grey area" but if gloves or wraps were not used then it would be against the law. |
Andy Topliffe, from B-BAD Promotions, previously said fighters used coverings on their fists. He is yet to comment on the postponement. | Andy Topliffe, from B-BAD Promotions, previously said fighters used coverings on their fists. He is yet to comment on the postponement. |
However, a spokesman for the British Boxing Board of Control said: "This event is not licensed or regulated... and we do not approve such events." | However, a spokesman for the British Boxing Board of Control said: "This event is not licensed or regulated... and we do not approve such events." |