Richar Abril pulls out of title fight for the second time

Derry Mathews is frustrated, and understandably so. He's spent a long time away from his family, training for a title fight, only to find out that Richar Abril has pulled the plug on their title fight for a second time. Abril-Mathews was first scheduled to take place on March 6th, but Abril ended up withdrawing from the fight because dengue fever left him sick and unable to train. That fight was then rescheduled for April 18th, but the Cuban lightweight has just withdrawn from the fight again, citing a recurring case of dengue fever.

"We have been made aware of Abril's withdrawal and are in discussions with the World Boxing Association and representatives of Richar Abril as to the current position of the world title as this is the second time he has withdrawn from this fight with less than two weeks before fight night," Warren's Queensberry Promotions said in a statement. "We expect to hear from the WBA shortly and will make an announcement through this office. However, we fully expect Mathews to contest a version of the WBA world championship on Saturday, April 18."

What this means is that Mathews is still going to fight on the 18th and they are expecting the WBA to now strip Abril of his title and allow Mathews to fight for the vacant title.