- The showdown between Aqib Fiaz and Kane Baker was called off on Saturday night.
- A statement from Matchroom said the fight was called off due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
- The British Boxing Board of Control has launched an investigation into the matter.
Eddie Hearn has revealed he was forced to cancel this weekend's Matchroom Boxing bout at the last minute after learning of a pattern of fraudulent betting.
Hearn made the decision to call off the showdown between Aqib Fiaz and Kane Baker just hours before the event was due to get underway in Birmingham on Saturday.
The super featherweight bout took place on the undercard to the middleweight title fight between Tyler Denney and Felix Cash at the Resorts World Arena.
Despite the incident, the rest of the evening went on as planned.
Matchroom initially stated that the cancellation was due to “unforeseen circumstances”, but Hearn revealed the real reason later that evening.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Aqib Fiaz vs. Kane Baker 2 fight has been canceled,” said a statement released by X. “Before the Bell will begin at 4:45pm, with the first fight kicking off at 5:15pm. Live coverage on DAZN will begin at 7pm as originally scheduled.”
Any allegations of betting irregularities were initially scrutinised by Hearn and his team, with the British Boxing Board of Control already believed to have launched an investigation.
“To be honest with you, there's no point in trying to sweep this under the rug,” Hearn told Boxing Social. “I knew there was some questionable betting activity surrounding this fight.”
“After I received the information I investigated it and together with myself, the team and the Gambling Commission we have taken the decision to call the match off.”
“When I did, I spoke to the British Boxing Board of Control, told them everything I had done and said I was going to call the fight off. They agreed with me and will now conduct their own investigation.”
Hahn also said he was shocked and “deeply uncomfortable” about the incident.
“I've never been in a situation like this in my 15 years,” he added. “Never before the game, never two weeks before the game, never 16 weeks before. It was a first for me. It's very disappointing.”
“The truth will come out, but all the information I was given at the time left me feeling extremely uncomfortable which resulted in me withdrawing from the match.”
In a statement posted to his Instagram Story, Fiaz denied any involvement in the situation, saying, “Tonight's game has been canceled due to circumstances I was not aware of or involved in. It is currently under investigation.”
“We have been instructed not to comment at this time.”
Baker denied being involved in the abusive posts, saying: “There are people saying bad things about the interview and fans saying I withdrew. I'm an honest fighter. You know me and you know what I do. I fight hard and I give it my all in the ring.”
“All I do is try to make as much money as I can for my family. I don't cheat. I have never and will never place a bet that will lose a match, no matter how much pressure I'm under. I'm happy that the investigation is moving forward and I'm happy that those around me are being investigated.”
“My whole career can be investigated. Nobody on Team Baker is making any bets. Nobody on my team is agreeing with me losing any matches. I don't care what other teams say. I never jump in on any bullshit.”
Fiers and Baker first met in 2020, with Fiers winning on points, and Saturday's bout was meant to be a highly anticipated rematch.
