Dublin bout depends on medical

The future of Wayne McCullough, who wants to stage a fight in Dublin, could hang on the decision of Irish brain specialist, professor Jack Phillips.

Scans taken of McCullough have been sent from his home in Las Vegas to Prof Phillips, a neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital, following the decision of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) not to allow him to fight in Britain or Northern Ireland.

Last October McCullough (30), was prevented from fighting in Belfast following a scan taken in Royal Victoria Hospital which indicated the presence of two cysts on his brain. Since then, he was told by US specialists the cysts could have been present but unnoticed for his entire career.

As a result the former Olympic silver medallist at the 1992 Games in Barcelona has been passed by doctors to fight in the US, but he wants to arrange a bout in Ireland, where interest would be much greater. McCullough had hoped to follow up the abandoned Belfast bout with one in Dublin.

"We got reports back from the BBBC when they denied him his licence to box," said his wife and manager Cheryl. "All we received from Simon Block (BBBC secretary) was that he was passed unfit to box. Our attorney has sent a letter to the BBBC asking for more information but we haven't heard anything back yet.

"We have also sent all the scans to Prof Phillips over a week ago and are waiting to hear back from him," she said. "We are not in a hurry but we are anxious. Wayne has been cleared to fight in the US by specialists here but wants to fight in Dublin."

Prof Phillips is one of the doctors in Ireland who advise and officiate at professional bouts organised by the Boxing Union of Ireland.

This weekend another Irish Olympian, Francis Barrett, now based in London with the Frank Warren stable, hopes to continue his smooth progress as a professional. Having beaten England's David White in London two weeks ago over four rounds, the 24-year-old light welterweight faces the more experienced Karl Taylor over six rounds tonight.

If all goes well against Taylor, Barrett will return to the Wembley Conference Centre on March 26th for another fight before returning to Galway for a break.

Trainer Emanuel Steward has predicted a polished performance from Naseem Hamed in his IBO featherweight title fight with Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas on April 7th.

"You are going to see a much tighter defence with much better balance," he said.