Olympic medallist forced off Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder undercard due to little-known rule

Olympic bronze medallist Abner Teixeira will no longer be making his professional debut on the Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder undercard.

According to Teixeira’s manager, Sal Jobe, the Brazilian amateur standout had been lined up to face Bradford’s Dan Garber (11-7) on the April 4 MF Pro bill at London’s O2 Arena.

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However, his application to box on the card was rejected by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) on the basis that an overseas boxer is not permitted to make their professional debut in the UK.

Organisers were informed of the decision via an email on Thursday, which talkSPORT.com has obtained.

Explaining the situation to talkSPORT.com, Jobe said: “The issue wasn’t with the calibre of the opponent.

“Dan Garber has fought some really good lads and would have been a decent opponent for a debut.

“The Board has said that Abner has to fight in his home country of Brazil first before boxing over here.

“So he’s going to fight in Brazil, probably around the same date.

“He will get that out of the way, and then he is going to have a quick turnaround on a Misfits card.

“It’s a real shame this has happened the way it has because it was a massive opportunity for Abner to introduce himself to the British fans.

“He’s a big star in Brazil, and as soon as he was announced to be on the card, we received so many messages and emails of congratulations.

“He was fuming when he heard, as he should be, because he is someone who genuinely trains six days a week and he’s been doing that consistently, non-stop for over a year, preparing for his debut.

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“And then he finally gets a date, so he can hone in on specifics, but just before flying out on Monday, he’s told he is not on the card.

“He’s even gone on a press tour in Brazil, where everyone is really excited to see their Olympic hero get his debut. But here we are.”

What has Abner Teixeira achieved in the amateurs?

Teixeira enjoyed a fruitful amateur career, culminating in a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a gold medal at the South American Games and a bronze and silver at the Pan American Games.

The 29-year-old also qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but after a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a total anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, he was defeated in the first round.

Teixeira is a hybrid pro, meaning he competes in both the amateurs and the paid ranks.

His most recent outing came at Brazil’s World Boxing Cup Tournament in April last year.