Daniel Blenda Dos Santos ruled out of European title fight with Shakan Pitters
Daniel Blenda Dos Santos withdraws, but Shakan Pitters relieved to be given a new opponent
Former British champion Shakan Pitters was rocked by the news that his opponent Daniel Blenda Dos Santos failed his brain scan yesterday and was therefore refused permission to fight on Friday night.
Pitters, 35, was due to face the champion Dos Santos for his EBU European light-heavyweight title on February 7 as the main event on a GBM show in Sheffield.
“Due to serious medical conditions Daniel Blenda Dos Santos is not authorised to fight until further notice," an EBU statement read.
Birminham boxer, Pitters, has been out the ring for over 16 months due to disputes and failed negotiations with promoters as a free agent, and it appeared this hiatus was going to be extended even further, until another opponent was fortunately found - Lee Ingelrest (12-0-1, 4KO).
Pitters will face the unbeaten Belgian in a non-title contest, live on DAZN. Stand-in opponent, Ingelrest, didn't meet the EBU's weight requirements to contest the now-vacant title.
Ranked 26th in the WBC world rankings, Pitters reacted to the last-minute drama, “I heard the news myself this morning, obviously disappointed that we can’t fight for the EBU [title], but I don’t know why it was left so late though because I could have cracked on and moved forward.
“I know these things are in place, these medical things, brain scans, are in place for a reason.
“Hopefully, we can turn it around and come back and have that fight, but more importantly that his health is ok.
“But this is boxing, and it happens, it’s out of my control, so yeah just plan to demonstrate a good performance on Friday against my new opponent. So, I’m all ready, guns blazing, business as usual!”
Every cloud has a silver lining and it's shining through brightly with the news that Shak will be able to challenge for the vacant EBU belt on April 4 in London's York Hall.
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