pickering forced out of fight

Esham Pickering has been forced to pull out of his May 13 IBF featherweight title clash against champion Valdemir Pereira due to a rib Injury.

The former European super-bantamweight champion was to have challenged the Brazilian born champion on the undercard of the massive Ricky Hatton vs Luis Collazo Sky Box Office ppv televised card at the TD Banknorth Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts on May 13.

Manager John Ingle confirmed Pickering's withdrawal to SecondsOut and said the 29 year-old Newark fighter is 'devastated'.

"Esham sustained an injury to the left side of his rib cage whilst sparring with Carl Johansen last week," said Ingle. "We thought he may have cracked a rib but the doctor confirmed that it was just very badly bruised. He was given all the usual treatment right away and the doctor told him to rest for a week then see how he feels.

"But we trained again yesterday and it was no better so we had no choice but pull out of the fight. Esham is devastated."


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