FORMER Commonwealth flyweight champion Daren Fifield's surprise shot at the British title next month appears to have been KO'd by boxing's governing body.

The British Board of Control confirmed yesterday that they will almost certainly refuse to sanction Fifield's scheduled championship bout with Ulsterman Damaen Kelly in Belfast on May 22, because of concerns over the Kennington fighter's three-year absence from the ring.

Fifield, 29, is due to meet Mark Reynolds in Peterborough on Saturday night - his first fight since retiring with ear problems in 1996.

But Robert Smith, the Board's southern area secretary, said that they had written to Kelly's manager Frank Maloney detailing their objections.

"If Daren wins on Saturday, then he is obviously in a better position, because he is then an active fighter," said Smith. "But he has got to show us a bit more."

However, last night Fifield said he believed that the Board might yet relent.

"If I perform well against Reynolds, then they might think again," Fifield said. "But I'm going to let the promoters worry about that."

Story date: Tuesday 20 April

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