Boxing: McMillan snub

COLIN McMILLAN'S attempt to be reinstated as the World Boxing Organisation featherweight champion was rejected by the governing body yesterday. The WBO upheld Saturday's decision at Olympia, which resulted in McMillan losing his title to Colombia's Reuben Palacio. The contest was stopped after McMillan dislocated his left shoulder in the eighth round.

An appeal made by the British Boxing Board of Control for a reversal was also heard by the WBO, and likewise turned down. McMillan thus remains as mandatory challenger, with the WBO refusing to entertain a claim from the promoter Frank Warren for a no- contest ruling.

Ed Levine, a WBO official, said: 'The championships committee agreed to a man that there was no reason to change the decision. Colin has lost the fight. There is no reason to reverse the verdict since this was not a foul. Colin was unable to continue and that's the end of it.'

Warren, who has contractual options on the 30-year-old Palacio, must now start negotiations with the new champion for the return. McMillan has been ordered to rest for six weeks, almost certainly ruling out a second fight until the New Year.

The promoter, Mickey Duff, has offered Richie Woodhall the perfect incentive to make a successful first defence of his Commonwealth middleweight title against John Ashton in Telford tomorrow. Duff has confirmed that he plans to stage an open-air European title fight involving Woodhall and the present champion, Sumbu Kalambay of Italy, at the West Bromwich Albion football ground next spring. Woodhall, whose great-grandfather, George, scored the winner for West Bromwich in the 1888 FA Cup final against Preston North End, is a supporter of the Second Division leaders.