Ricky is rocked by eye injury KO blow

Peacock BC's Ricky Newland's high hopes of success in the current ABA heavyweight title race have been exploded after he has been forced to withdraw because of eye trouble, writes LEN WHALEY.

He has pulled out of the quarter-finals at Sheffield on Friday because of the problem which came after he won the London ABA crown, when he defeated All Stars Moses Kamula at York Hall earlier this month.

"After the bout I noticed my vision was restricted in my left eye, I have had it checked by three doctors who advised me not to box," said the very disappointed Newland.

"As for my future in the sport - I just can't say, but I must respect what the doctors decide," he admitted.

It's not only a blow for the boxer, and the Peacock Club, but for the national squad too, for Newland was rated one of the brightest prospects in the heavyweight division.

He looked a good bet for success in the 2009 title race - going one better than the runners-up award he achieved as a cruiserweight a year ago, when he showed outstanding form against far more experienced rivals.

He made a late switch up to heavyweight for his current ABA bid, meaning his clubmate and close pal Wadi Camacho moved up to super-heavyweight and suffered defeat in the London ABA final.

Meanwhile, neighbouring West Ham BC rest their ABA hopes on welterweight Dudley O'Shaughnessy, who has shown explosive form in his earlier appearances on the ABA title trail.

However, standards will be high at Sheffield with some talented opposition aiming to stop the bright Hammer's hopes of adding to his impressive list of honours.

Daniel Kennedy (Jersey Leonis) is named as O'Shaughnessy's opponent as the Hammers' entry, and the rest of the London winners, face their quarter-final contests on Friday afternoon and evening.

The winners will go forward to the national semi-final contests just 24 hours later, and they will be boxing for a place in the ABA finals, booked for Friday, May 8, again in Yorkshire.