More Bad News For The Heavyweights: Martin Rogan-Matt Skelton II Off As Rogan Injures Ankle In Training

By James Slater: Yet more bad news for fans of the heavyweights. Hot on the heels of the news that told us Eddie Chambers’ IBF elimination bout with Tony Thompson had been called off, comes news that Martin Rogan of Belfast has also suffered an injury; one that has forced the calling off of the 40-year-old’s planned rematch with “Bedford Bear” Matt Skelton.

As has been reported by BBC Sport, “Rogie” sustained ankle tendons damage in training earlier this week and has been told that the injury needs around for to six weeks to heal. The scheduled bout, a rematch of a February 2009 thriller which was won by Rogan via 11th-round TKO, was to have taken place at The Kings Hall in Belfast on Nov. 12th.

44-Year-old Skelton was looking forward to the fight, feeling he would exact revenge and then bag himself further big fights. There is no word yet on whether or not the fight will be re-set for another date, or of how soon. But with Rogan possibly needing as much as six weeks rest before he can resume training, it’s possible the fight may not happen until next year.

Is it just me, or are there more and more fights being postponed due to injury these days? It sure seems so. No-one is doubting the seriousness or the validity of the injuries suffered by guys such as Chambers and Rogan, not at all – it just seems there are more and more postponed fights nowadays. Are fighters taking less care in training? Or are too many older fighters sticking around, and are they picking up injuries as a result of their age?

Whatever the case with Rogan, at age 40, and after having been inactive for such a time, he cannot afford to hang around. Last fighting back in November of last year, Rogan needs to get his career moving again if he’s to get back to where he wants to be. All we can do is wish him a speedy recovery from this latest injury. But will Skelton move on now, and take a different fight?