Injury scuppers Shak bid for European title
Pitters and Dos Santos with GBM boss Izzy Asif. Pic: GBM Sports
SHAKAN Pitters’ European title shot has again been KOd by injury only days before it was due to take place.
Birmingham’s former British light-heavyweight champ was to have faced belt holder Daniel Dos Santos at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on Friday night.
But today the 35-year-old’s manager, Jon Pegg, confirmed Shak has been forced to pull out after tearing a chest muscle.
The 12 rounder, promoted by GBM Sports, seems cursed. Shak was to have challenged the Frenchman in February in Sheffield. But, with only days to go, the French boxing federation announced Dos Santos had failed a medical in his own country, scuppering the event.
Instead, Pitters stayed sharp on the show with a second round stoppage of Iranian Bahadur Karami.
Dos Santos, aged 34, challenged the organisation’s findings, won his case – and the fight was back on.
It has been an anxious few days for Pitter and his team at Eastside gym. I understood he underwent hospital tests after complaining of feeling unwell on Sunday – and was kept in for observation. There were concerns he may have been suffering something more serious and vascular.
Thankfully, he has been pronounced fit and healthy – apart from the sporting injury.
Manager Jon Pegg said tonight: “We have to take any injury very seriously and put the boxer first. Luckily, he’s fine and completely signed off by the docs.”
It is not yet known when – or even if – GBM will stage the championship.
You have to feel for Pitters, one of the game’s nice guys. He only recently attended the funeral of his father, former tough middleweight Colin.
Dos Santos looked a beatable opponent – and victory would’ve secured big fights and big money for Shak.
Known as the Panther, Dos Santos may have lost only one of 22, but he was cruelly exposed by Joshua Buatsi in 2021.
At Manchester Arena, Dos Santos was floored in the second, then sparked out by a right hand in the fourth. Frankly, he looked out of his depth.
He’s bounced back with six wins, although the opposition has been undemanding.
When the contest was announced, Shakan said: “The EBU light-heavyweight championship is a big title, so I’m excited for this fight. It’s a big deal being able to say you’re the champion of Europe - the next stage is world level. At the same time, I don’t let that distract me. All my focus is on winning this fight and beating Daniel Dos Santos, I’m not looking past anyone.
“Dos Santos is good. You have to be good to win a European championship and you have to be putting in the work, so that speaks for itself. His only loss is to (Olympic medallist and world title contender) Joshua Buatsi. He’s got a good level, but I know what I am capable of and you’ll see that on the night.”