Boxing: Cook surrenders title at weigh-in

Jason Cook lost his European lightweight title at the scales last night when he was two pounds over the lightweight limit. Cook was given one hour to lose the surplus weight, but when he returned he had managed to drop just half a pound and that meant that the European Boxing Union had no option but to declare his title vacant.

However, tonight at the Bridgend Leisure Centre, Cook will challenge for the same title against Italy's Stefano Zoff, but if he wins he will not win the title. It is a bizarre set of circumstances because Zoff will be crowned the new European lightweight champion if he wins. If it sounds confusing that is because it is confusing.

Cook, who two years ago spent six months in prison for mail fraud, won the title in Italy in the summer against the odds and his defeat last night at the scales was a bitter disappointment. "It's the worst moment in my entire boxing career and possibly even in my life," said Cook. "I'll win this fight and then I will get a chance to win the title back."

It is uncommon for boxers to lose their titles at the scales, but at the same time a lot of modern fighters take tremendous risks when they lose the weight in the weeks before their fight.

Cook is one of the biggest lightweights in the world and has often struggled to get the final pound or two off, but like most fighters he believes that he is still a lightweight when in reality he could easily move up one or even two weights.

His failure last night was both a bitter blow for him and will clearly take the edge off tonight's fight which in many ways was a triumphant homecoming for the local boxer.

Zoff, who previously held the title, is now in a strong position because even if he loses he will still remain the mandatory challenger and that could mean that he will have to fight Cook once again. However, a Zoff victory, which is highly likely, will probably mean that Cook will have to return to Italy for another fight.

Last night in Sheffield at the Ponds Forge Sports Centre, British boxing's best prospect, David Haye, won for the second time as a professional, easily stopping the Frenchman Saber Zairi in round four.