BRITISH boxing WILL return in February following a ban in January due to a surge in coronavirus cases.
The British Board of Boxing Control cancelled all events this month to allow medics to prioritise work with NHS during pandemic.
But now, BBoBC general secretary Robert Smith confirmed, as it stands, boxing can resume in February.
He told talkSPORT: “Come February, they’ll be able to do shows and we’ll take it from there.
“I’m confident this is the right thing to do. I’m advised by the doctors, I have to take the advice.
“If you’ve got the doctors, you need to listen to what they’re saying.
“Those decisions are hard decisions to make, but that’s why we govern a sport.”
It paves the way for Amir Khan’s grudge match with Kell Brook, both 35, to stay on track for February 19 in Manchester.
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But Chris Eubank Jr, 32, who was set to fight Liam Williams, 29, on January 29, will have to see his return rescheduled.
The new date is now targeted for February 5, just one week later.
Explaining the decision to suspend fights in January, Smith added: “Other sports are lucky.
“We’ve got Jurgen Klopp not being able to go to a football match because of COVID, you’ve got players unable to take part in matches because of COVID, but they can be replaced.
“In boxing, they can’t. Ultimately if something happens with regards to the virus or any contact with anybody, that’s the show finished.
“The decision the board have made – which I fully support – is, ‘Let’s have a circuit breaker for a month.’
“It’s only two weeks ultimately because no boxing generally happens in the first two weeks of January.”
