The unpleasant truth behind Tony Salam's Prizefighter absence

It has not been a good week for the profile of British boxing.  Yes, we could leave these stories alone quite frankly and I'm aware of the arguments for doing so.  In the opposite corner is that we are a news service, after all. 

Hardcore fight fans will have raised eyebrows when Tony Salam's name didn't make the final Prizefighter list for the franchise's latest instalment at York Hall last night.  After all, it was only very recently - and with great fanfare - that the Nigerian-born, Woolwich-based super-middleweight completed the line up after winning a 'public vote' to fill the final berth.

His name disappeared from the list earlier this week with the always dubious 'personal reasons' cited.

In actual fact, whilst the rest of the boxers were making their final fight night preparations yesterday, Salam was in court, accused - and later convicted - of sexually assaulting a woman and holding her prisoner at his home.

According to court reports, Salam, 26, attacked his victim in her Essex flat after she returned from a night out, hurling her to the floor. She struggled free but the fighter chased her and dragged her back inside.

Salam is undoubtedly heading for jail. Judge John Lafferty at Snaresbrook Crown Court remanded him in custody and warned him he was facing an “inevitable custodial sentence”. The boxer, who denied the charges, will be sentenced on July 28.

Salam was an undoubted talent at 9-1 with a Southern Area title to his name.

Another sad day for boxing but most of all for Salam's poor victim.