McEwan hit by low blow as bout is off

Edinburgh middleweight Craig McEwan has been stunned by the news his much-anticipated fight with former IBF world light-middleweight champion Kassim Ouma in Las Vegas on Saturday has been cancelled.

The television company backing the bout have pulled the plug after rejecting a late cash request from Ouma.

A telephone call from his Golden Boy promotional group informed McEwan of the bad news which is likely to see him remain out of action until November.

McEwan revealed: “I was totally fired up for my scrap with Ouma. It was a major chance for me to re-establish myself in the American ratings after losing for the first time as a pro in America against Andy Lee.

“I was actually packing for my flight back to the US when the phone rang and I heard the Ouma fight was off.

“Golden Boy have told me that the best I can hope for now is a fight on a Frank Warren-promoted show in November.”

Meanwhile, the Capital’s Sparta club are putting on a 14-bout amateur boxing show at Penicuik’s Shottstown Miners Club this Sunday with tickets priced £10 available at the door. Boxing will commence around 1.30pm.

Sparta show matchmaker Scott Forsyth said: “This will be a chance for fans who missed last Friday’s Princes Street Gardens show to see our boxer Keith Barr, who was one of four Edinburgh boxers to win, in action again. We are also featuring several of our up-and-coming boxing stars on Sunday’s bill.’’