The spreading coronavirus threat continues to impact boxing.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn canceled a card this week in Italy, the second cancellation in a country that has been especially hit hard by the respiratory virus.
A March 27 card featuring European light-heavyweight champion Francesco Patera of Belgium against Italian Devis Boschero in Verona, in northern Italy, has been cancelled by Matchroom.
Last month, Matchroom canceled a card scheduled for Feb. 28 in Milan.
Matchroom said in a statement that it will try to re-schedule both cards, but it wasn’t clear whether it could.
“Given the unprecedented nature of this now global issue, we are unable to offer more clarity on new dates,” Matchroom said in a statement.
All sporting events have been banned in Italy until April 3. Boxing has been banned in Japan throughout March.
Top Rank formally announced Monday that the Jose Ramirez-Viktor Postol fight will happen May 9 in Fresno, California, Ramirez’s hometown. The junior welterweight title fight had been scheduled for Feb. 1 in China, where the virus originated. But it was cancelled about a week before the fight and subsequently moved.
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