DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Tuesday 4.30pm.
WHEN former no.1 WBA contender Henry Akinwande fought in South Africa two weeks ago he was still suffering from the hepatitis B virus, but didn’t undergo a medical, a United States hearing has revealed.
A medical is required by law to be done on a boxer prior to a match. However officials overlooked this before Akinwande’s ridiculous mismatch against little known Kenyan boxer Chris Serengo.
As in the US, a fighter suffering from the hepatitis B virus is also not permitted to fight in South Africa. Rules were however bent and a blind eye turned as the bout still managed to be sanctioned.
The illenss has put Ankinwande on the New York suspension list.
The WBA hearing taking place in Philadelphia is trying to determine whether they will sanction Lennox Lewis upcoming bout against Michael Grant, or strip him of the title for not defending against their no.1 contender.
Akinwande has been unavailable due the virus. It has been confirmed by Dr William Lathan that the condition is still prevalent in the fighter.
He has been removed from his number one ranking due to his illness.