McCracken fight moves to Midlands

Boxing

Birmingham's Robert McCracken's attempt to win the vacant Commonwealth middle- weight title next month will take place in Dudley Town Hall.

McCracken was expecting to face the Canadian champion Fitzgerald Bruney for the title in London on 3 November, but the fight was transferred to the Midlands after McCracken's manager, Mickey Duff, ran into problems trying to find a suitable venue in the capital.

McCracken, who gave up his British light-middleweight title earlier this week, said: "This is a big chance for me and I plan to make the most of it.

"I have struggled in my last two fights and could easily have been turned over. The weight problems had something to do with that, but I also wasn't training properly. All that has changed now and I'm determined there will be no slip-ups."

Duff, who has tipped McCracken to win a world title, said: "He owes it to himself to knuckle down because at the end of the day it is his standard of living that he is fighting for. He can win a world title and make enough money to invest in a business and make himself comfortable in later life."