BOXING: Dodson unable to take the heat

ADRIAN DODSON was given the all-clear after suffering from the effects of dehydration and exhaustion in the aftermath of his shock defeat by Mpush Makambi in their IBO world middleweight bout in Bethnal Green on Tuesday night. Dodson was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel after the fight, but was discharged shortly afterwards.

Under British Boxing Board of Control's (BBBC) regulations, the Guyana- born, Islington-based fighter, who was knocked out in the 11th round by Makambi, a largely unknown last-minute challenger from South Africa, faces an automatic 28-day suspension from competition.

Tony Shepherd, Dodson's agent, claimed excessive ring lighting, causing the auditorium to overheat, was to blame. "Adrian couldn't breathe from the 5th round on. I hope the Board do something about the heat," he said.

Dr Ossie Ross, a highly-experienced medical official of the Board, was also critical of the temperature. "I cannot recall such an uncomfortable night at ringside. It seemed unusually warm, especially inside York Hall."

The shirt-sleeved crowd had to swelter through a 30-minute delay before the last bout, waiting for the ambulance to return after taking Dodson to hospital.

The next bout at York Hall is on Saturday, when Luton's Billy Schwer defends his European lightweight title against Manuel Fernandes of Spain.

The WBO cruiserweight champion, Carl Thompson, of Manchester, has been named British Boxer of the Year by the BBBC.

Thompson won his title by beating Ralf Rocchigiani in Hanover last October, and defended it successfully in two thrilling contests against Chris Eubank.

His first fight with Eubank, which Thompson won on points at Manchester's Nynex Arena in April, has been named Contest of the Year.

The awards will be presented in London on 11 October, an event which will also mark the launch of the Board's annual reference publication, the British Boxing Yearbook.