Adam Azim's hopes of a summer run-out with a big July fight mooted have been dramatically dashed at the eleventh hour.
It was all systems go for a chief support slot on Sky Sports tonight at Barnsley's Oakwell Stadium, as the IBO world junior welterweight champion readied himself for his second 2025 appearance after
dismissing Sergey Lipinets with an eighth-round stoppage on February 1.
However, the 23-year-old's Mexican opponent Eliot Chavez (13-7-1, 7 KOs) hasn't been cleared to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) after it emerged his country's commission raised concerns about the method with which he made weight on Friday afternoon.
The 30-year-old visitor, who began his decade-long professional career at junior lightweight in 2015 and has fluctuated from bantamweight to junior welterweight since,
tipped the scales at 143lbs for their eight-round non-title bout.
He came in a quarter pound lighter than his most recent outing, a fifth-round knockout win over Hector Manuel Vargas on May 2, though an investigation into the use of a sauna to help cut weight - a method prohibited by the BBBofC - means permission for him to box on the bill has now been retracted.
Azim, ranked No. 8 with the WBA and No. 12 in the WBC's recent update, will have to wait a while longer before his next matchup is finalised.
An official announcement on BOXXER's social media channels reads as follows:
"The British Boxing Board of Control has withdrawn permission for Eliot Chavez to face Adam Azim tonight in Barnsley following concerns raised by the Mexican boxing commission relating to Chavez's use of a sauna to make weight - a practice that is prohibited by the Board."
It's now an eight-fight bill, with
Simpson's divisional rival Mark Jeffers' WBA Continental Gold title fight with America's Sean Hemphill the chief support. That will take place after
featherweight Rhys Edwards and
middleweight Sam Hickey kick off the televised portion in separate contests on Sky Sports Main Event, Action and Sky Showcase from 7pm BST.