John Joe Nevin has potential London and Belfast fight dates in his sights after his planned comeback bout was cancelled.
Olympic silver medallist Nevin was due to fight for the first time in over a year on a small-hall show in Tolworth, south-west London this evening.
However, it is understood that medical licensing issues and complications with a potential opponent meant the British Boxing Board of Control would not sanction the fight.
"It was just medicals that weren’t put through quick enough and then the opponent wasn’t cleared apparently," explained Nevin . "There was one or two [potential] opponents and they didn’t clear them, I don’t think their records were too good…. [my] medicals weren’t done in time either."
While the cancellation is yet another blow to the 28-year-old’s stop-start professional career, Nevin hopes to arrange a new fight date as soon as possible, with a Belfast outing being one possibility.
The former European amateur champion has been training under veteran London coach Jim McDonnell, having recovered from a rib injury that had previously scuppered a planned March ring return.
"I’ll be stepping up in my next fight, but I’ve been out for a year so we just wanted something to shake our feathers like," said Nevin on his latest cancellation.
"It’s disappointing, but I’m out here with Jim McDonnell to get a sparring and training in, so hopefully I’ll be back in there soon anyway. It’s good here, it’s tremendous to work here."
The two-time Olympian has not fought since a points victory over American journeyman Jesus Lule in Philadelphia in August of last year, which marked his only bout since November 2015.
A March return was scuppered due to Nevin picking up a rib injury in sparring, which was the latest disappointment in a series of career set-backs.
While the 28-year-old has built an 8-0 record since turning pro three-and-a-half years ago, the Mullingar native suffered two broken legs in an attack just weeks after his paid debut.
Since then, promotional issues and injury have derailed Nevin’s progress, although the Westmeath man hopes to book an alternative comeback bout.
A London fight date next week is one possibility, while Nevin revealed earlier this month that his management team are looking into a potential undercard slot on one of the upcoming Belfast fight cards. Ryan Burnett and Carl Frampton are both set to headline big bills in the city over the next two months.
"There’s fights happening in Belfast all the time, so they’re looking at getting me a fight in Belfast soon," said Nevin, who hopes to follow the lead of his former Irish amateur team-mates on the professional scene.
"Look at Michael Conlan, he’s doing tremendous at the minute because the momentum is going his way," said the Mullingar man. "Paddy Barnes too… All of them are doing well and that’s the way I want to be. Hopefully I’ll be able to change that and we can have a few world champions in Ireland in 2018," added Nevin.
