by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani has denied a BBC Sport report that claimed challenger Jose Ocampo has pulled out of his lightweight title bout against WBO champion Ricky Burns which is scheduled at the ExCel Arena in London.
Phil Goodland of the BBC had reported that it was not clear whether Burn’s title “will be on the line now that the challenger Jose Ocampo has pulled out.”
The fight was scheduled to be the third title defense of Burns against the 23 year old Ocampo who is ranked No. 14 in the world.
Ocampo was a late replacement for original challenger Liam Walsh who had to pull out after being injured in a car crash.
Although BBC Sports reported that it was not known why Ocampo pulled out Gello-ani told Boxingscene.com/Manila Standard “they feel that Ocampo may be affected by the sudden death of his trainer. The cancellation is not confirmed. I contacted them asking for our tickets because Ocampo ready and rearing to fight for the title. He is in great shape.”
The 50 year old Danny Bactol collapsed and died of a heart attack while watching Ocampo train on the heavy bag after Bactol did the punch-mitts with him last Thursday.
Gello-ani told us that Ocampo “had vowed to do his best to win the title in a fight he would dedicate to his fallen trainer.”