STEVE Bendall's on-off British middleweight title bout against Scott Dann should still go ahead this summer, reports Phil Chard.

That's the view of Plymouth-based Dann's manager Chris Sanigar, who also used to be the man in charge of Poole-based southpaw Bendall.

Confusion reigned over the weekend whether the fight would go ahead after Bendall's camp was told it was definitely off last week by Dann's camp, as revealed in the Daily Echo on Saturday.

Dann, though, had said at the time: "As far as I am concerned, I only have a sore hand and the fight is still going ahead on July 3."

However, Sanigar has since told the Plymouth Evening Herald: "The fight that was due to have been held on June 19 is off.

"Scott's hand is not 100 per cent and he will need more time to prepare.

"The title fight will now revert back to purse bids with the winner having the right to promote and stage the fight.

"We will be bidding and if we win the bid, we will stage the bout in Plymouth."

Dann, the British number three, added: "Yes, my hand's swollen, it's a real pain that the fight has been called off.

"But I will be ready when my left hand's better to have a crack at the title."

The injury was incurred during Dann's three-round victory over Leeds' Danny Thornton to lift the English title earlier this month.

Bendall, the British number two, is the British Boxing Board of Control's mandatory challenger for the title in the wake of previous holder Howard Eastman relinquishing the belt.

Unbeaten in 21 professional fights, he has earned his shot at the belt, particularly as his scheduled contest against Eastman was called off in March when the Battersea Bomber withdrew late in the day.