JOSH WALE has branded English bantamweight champion Craig Lyon a "bottler" for cancelling their planned English title fight.
Brampton boxer Wale thought he had received a late Christmas present when the fight was offered by Lyon's representatives.
With British champion Stuart Hall committed to another fight, Wale was the next highest-ranked candidate in England.
But St Helens fighter Lyons pulled out of the fight less than 24 hours later.
"He clearly doesn't want to fight me, but he should have no option," said Wale. "There's nobody else in this division that he could fight.
"I don't know what's happened. Maybe he's gone home and watched me on video or spoke to people in boxing about me and realised that I'd be too tough a defence."
