Injury means Melson misses out on Madison Square

Junior middleweight boxer Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson has been forced to pull out of his Madison Square fight next weekend after he tore his left rotator cuff during a training session.

Set to fight Glen Tapia next Saturday night in an eight-round encounter, Melson, who said he was in the best shape of his professional career, first suffered the same injury six years ago, which jeopardised his chances of taking part in the 2008 Olympic Games, and has twice had it operated on. He said: “I felt it stretch when I was throwing a punch and I immediately knew something wasn’t right. I tried to work through it but the pain only got worse. First, my shoulder started to throb then it got cold. Since I hurt my rotator cuff and had surgery twice in the past, I know what a tear feels like.”

Hugely disappointed, and admitting his future in the ring now hangs in the balance, he said: “I didn’t want to believe it because I’ve worked incredibly hard and understand the significance of the Tapia fight. Not only was it a dream of mine to fight at Madison Square Garden, but a victory over Tapia would’ve put me in position to start earning significant money for Team Fight to Walk [the charity he donates his purses too].

“This is truly devastating and I am heartbroken, especially after what happened during my last fight. I’m very emotional right now and don’t know what the future holds.”