British boxer Aqib Fiaz has been “cleared of any wrongdoing” following an investigation by the British Board of Boxing Control (BBBofC). The investigation stemmed from the cancellation of his fight against Kane Baker, scheduled for June 22 in Birmingham. The fight was called off the same day, citing “unforeseen circumstances” related to suspicious betting activity.
In a statement issued by Fiaz, the boxer expressed relief at being exonerated. Fiaz emphasized that he had always maintained his innocence and had no knowledge or involvement in the betting allegations. He thanked his team and Matchroom Boxing for their support throughout the process.
“After a lengthy investigation by the British Board of Control into allegations following my cancelled fight in June, I am pleased that the Board have considered all documentation and evidence supplied and reached the decision that no further action is required and have cleared me of any wrongdoings.”
“I always maintained that I had no involvement or knowledge of any of the allegations surrounding that fight, and the evidence I and others provided to the Board demonstrated exactly that.”
“I am grateful to Matchroom, my manager, trainers, and sponsors for their full support during this process, and I cannot wait to get back in the ring.”
However, Kane Baker, Aqib Fiaz’s opponent in the cancelled fight, was more forceful in his accusations.
In a post on his official Instagram account, Baker claimed that both Aqib and his brother had attempted to bribe him before the fight. According to Baker, they asked him to take a dive after being hit with a body shot in the first three rounds. “They BOTH asked me to take a dive. Specifically a body shot on rounds 1-3. They tried to bribe me and mug me off for being the away fighter,” wrote Baker.
Baker also alleged that Fiaz’s team prolonged the situation, preventing him from accepting other fights or resolving the issue quickly. He criticized the lack of a public response from Aqib Fiaz and his team, noting that Asam Fiaz, Aqib’s brother, avoided attending key Board meetings. “Team Fiaz stay guilty and quiet,” stated Baker.
The away fighter expressed his frustration at waiting 16 weeks without any payment after the cancellation of the bout. He also stressed that the case had not been treated with the seriousness it deserved. Despite having his boxing license reinstated, Baker insisted that the truth about the case has yet to be revealed. “Well, if I’ve got my license and you’ve got yours, let’s get the fight on and resolve this in the ring,” Baker challenged Fiaz.
Matchroom and Eddie Hearn’s Role
Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Boxing, commented on the fight’s cancellation through the company’s official YouTube channel. Hearn revealed that betting suspicions came to his attention shortly before the fight. “I was made aware of some betting irregularities on that fight,” Hearn explained.
“I was given some information, I followed it up myself and with my team, the gambling commission, and the British Boxing Board of Control. Having spoken to a number of people, I decided to pull the fight pending a further investigation,” Hearn said.
Hearn indicated that the decision to cancel the fight was not taken lightly, but was necessary to protect the integrity of the sport. “In 15 years of promoting boxing, I’ve never experienced that type of situation,” the promoter added.
The bout between Fiaz and Baker was set for the DAZN undercard, headlined by Tyler Denny and Felix Cash. However, the last-minute cancellation shook fans and left a bitter taste at the event.
With the investigation now resolved, Aqib Fiaz looks forward to returning to the ring without the burden of the allegations. The boxer has reiterated his focus on his career and his desire to move past this chapter. Meanwhile, Kane Baker maintains his stance and challenges Fiaz to face him in the ring to settle the matter once and for all.
‼️ Aqib Fiaz has claimed that he has been ‘cleared of any wrongdoing’ following an investigation by the BBBofC into his cancelled fight with Kane Baker. The fight was called off on the day that it was supposed to take place due to ‘irregular betting activity’. pic.twitter.com/1pmMicgWEB
— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) October 21, 2024
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