Conflicting Info Surrounds Doyle Withdrawal from Walsh Clash

By Shaun Brown

There appears to be differing reasons as to why Ryan Doyle (11-1-1, 6 KOs) has had to withdraw from his British featherweight title challenge against champion Ryan Walsh on January 22.

Walsh (19-1-1, 8 KOs) will now face Scotland’s Darren Traynor (11-0, 5 KOs) – as announced today via a Frank Warren and Queensbury Promotions press release - in the first defence of his title on the same date next month at London’s York Hall live on Boxnation.

Boxing Scene reached out to Queensbury’s matchmaker Jason McClory to find out why Doyle had pulled out of the contest.

“I was told he [Doyle] doesn’t have enough time to train and can’t get the time off work. So effectively they pulled out of the fight.”

‘Scene was then told by Doyle’s manager Steve Wood that the Mancunian, last out on November 21 in an entertaining draw with Isaac Lowe for the English featherweight title, has picked up a “little niggle so he had to withdraw”.

Boxing Scene tried to contact Doyle but he was unavailable for comment.

Regardless of the reason this represents a huge opportunity for Traynor, 29, who will compete in his first 12-round contest when he faces Walsh. It will also be his first bout outside of his native Aberdeen. The Scot had originally been scheduled to face Northern Ireland’s James Tennyson (15-1, 12 KOs) on February 6 in Belfast in a British featherweight title eliminator.

Chief support on January 22 will see the slick Ahmet Patterson face Ryan Aston for the vacant IBF Intercontinental light middleweight belt. The card also features Lewis Pettitt, Ediz Hussein, Sam McNess, Billy Long, Archie Sharp, Ben Smith and D.P Carr.

Tickets are priced at £40 and £60 and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0844 844 0444.

Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0. Contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com