FRANK Maloney is to file official letters of protest with Irish, British and European boxing chiefs today, warning he will black-list Belfast as a fight venue in future after Saturday’s decision against bantamweight Vince Feeney.
He flew into London from America to a storm yesterday after talks for a world heavyweight unification clash between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.
Anger was raging within the Panix Promotions camp over Feeney’s controversial loss to Tommy Waite on Saturday for the vacant All-Ireland championship title.
Maloney claimed the decision to award Waite the title by referee Freddie Tiedt was “diabolical”.
The hotly disputed result could, he pointed out, cost Feeney a shot at European champion Johnny Bredahl of Denmark.
Maloney admitted that a EBU match with Bredahl had been under negotiation since Feeney defeated former British flyweight champion Francis Ampofo, and was virtually secured.
Maloney slammed the decision, and warned of severe consequences.
After watching the fight video he issued a statement, saying he would be filing a “strong protest” with the BUI over the handling of the contest and result, would take up the matter with the British Board, and with the EBU.
Board, and with the EBU.
“I have never seen such a diabolical decision in all my life. It was a disgrace,” he said.
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JOE Kernan confirmed last night that he is interested in becoming Cavan football manager.
The Crossmaglen manager met with the Cavan county board over a week ago and the likelihood is he will be appointed as Breffni boss before the New Year.
“I got a phone call a week to 10 days ago from Cavan and I then had a meeting with the county board.
“That’s all that’s happened so far and I’m sure the county board have been speaking to other candidates as well,” said Kernan.
The former Armagh and Ulster Railway Cup footballer said that the “time might be right” to move on from managing Crossmaglen. Kernan guided the south Armagh club to an emotional success in the All-Ireland Club Championship earlier this year.
In spite of the county’s dreadful start to this season’s National Football League, Kernan insists that there is “plenty of potential” within the Cavan side.
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JOE Royle will tell the Irish Football Association early in the new year if he wants to become the new Northern Ireland manager.
The former Everton and Oldham manager was interviewed by IFA president Jim Boyce at the end of last week about the vacant position.
Boyce said if Royle was interested his name would be put forward to the IFA international committee for approval.
“Joe was one of the people that as president of the IFA I wanted to speak to,” said Boyce.
“He came over last Friday and we had an excellent meeting and we were very impressed.
“But I intend to speak to other people, which Joe is fully aware of, and the international committee will make the final appointment.”
