A high-profile fight involving Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer Danny Christie has been officially called off.
The Currock fighter and former BKFC champion had been due to take on Doncaster’s Brett May in Barnsley in April.
But after a series of exchanges between the fighters on social media, organisers have removed the contest from the card.
Promoters said the decision comes after discussions with police and the venue, Barnsley Metrodome.
Stefan Hanks, organising the fight through the Bad To The Bone promotion, made the announcement in " target="_blank" class="link"> a YouTube video.
He said: “I have some official news that I want to share with everybody, so you get it direct from myself.
“I can officially confirm the fight between Brett May and Danny Christie is off the show and will no longer take place on Barnsley Metrodome on April 19.
“I’ve had a lot of back and forth over the last couple of days with police, and also the venue. They’re not happy to have the fight on.
“I think there are also people sending messages and contacting police regarding the fight.
“We’re not allowed to put the fight on at the event. I know a lot of people wanted to watch it – haters, lovers as such – but we cannot put the fight on.”
The two fighters have traded blows on social media, including footage of Christie driving to Doncaster in an attempt to seek out May after alleged comments made by the rival boxer about his family.
Such a confrontation did not materialise, but the April fight is now off.
“I’m not happy with what’s gone on. I work hard and people don’t understand how hard we work as a promoter to put these events on,” added Hanks.
“It’s put a lot of negative vibes towards our event, which we can’t have. It’s caused massive issues.
“The show will still go ahead and we’ve got some really big fights on – a fantastic fight card.
“I hope they [Christie and May] do get the fight on somewhere but I don’t think it will be on a public platform.
“I think they have some unsettled business to sort out and best of luck to both of them.”
Christie, the former British light-heavyweight champion, has said he plans to return to the major BKFC platform in the summer, having announced his retirement last year.
A spokesperson for Barnsley Metrodome told the Doncaster Free Press: “After a lot of concern regarding two fighters on the card and talks with the police, we have handed all information over to them and are awaiting confirmation of whether it will be going ahead or not.”
South Yorkshire Police added: "No formal objections to the event have been made by South Yorkshire Police.”
