Shane McGuigan has released a statement saying he is 'disappointed' that Ellie Scotney has been caught in a 'cross-fire' after her 3Arena world title bout was scrapped.
Scotney was set to fight Cherneka Johnson for the IBF super bantamweight world title next month but has claimed she has been removed from the card at the request of Chantelle Cameron.
Cameron will headline the card as she defends her own world titles against Katie Taylor on May 20.
And Scotney Tweeted earlier in the week, saying: “I am incredibly disappointed to say that I am now hearing I will be removed from the May 20th card in Dublin due to Chantelle Cameron and her manager insisting to my promoter that I’m not allowed to be on her undercard because of who trains me. This is despite having been on two cards together before with no problems whatsoever!
“After my world title fight had been announced (on a huge night globally for women’s boxing), my dream is now being taken away form me by a fellow fighter dictating terms and making unreasonable demands to my promoter. I cannot describe how heartbroken I am.”
Scotney is coached by Shane McGuigan and the trainer previously coached Cameron before a split back in 2019.
And Cameron responded on social media on Wednesday.
She said: " "I'm gutted to have to come on here and write this today, but I've had no option after the statement that was issued last night.
"Firstly, I am sorry that Ellie feels the way she does. I respect her as a fighter, and I wish the situation was different, but as female fighters, who always have to work harder to prove ourselves, I would have hoped that she would have understood the situation and how important our mental health is going in to fights like these, especially as the away fighter in Dublin where Katie is hailed as a national treasure. Yes, I am a fighter, but I am human too.
"A few years ago I was almost walking away from a sport I love because of what I went through.
"I have worked so hard since that point to put this behind me, to grow from it, to find my confidence again, to feel positive, to fall back in love with this amazing sport, and surround myself with people that want to look after me and always put my best interests at heart.
"Ellie is right when she said that she has fought on the same cards as me before, but on those occasions only the people closest to me know what I had to go through because of this, and did what was necessary to make sure I stayed on track and positive, and not let that affect my mindset and my performance, despite the emotions it triggered.
"So, it brings me to this point, where I am in the biggest fight of my life and what I have worked towards for all these years. It has not been an easy road and it has not been an easy decision for my team to make, but they have to protect me in this situation and I have to protect myself.
"I am sorry this impacts Ellie, this is not about her."
It continues: "I really do wish her well moving forward and know that there are big opportunities around the corner for her.
"It's not in my nature to air my grievances or emotions in public and I would never have mentioned anything about this, especially on social media, but feel like I've been left with no choice but to defend myself having been attacked for trying to protect myself.
"This is the last I'll be saying on this matter and will continue to fully focus on training and the mammoth fight ahead."
And McGuigan has since released a statement of his own.
He said: "I'm so disappointed that Ellie is caught in the cross-fire by the demands of Chantelle's team preventing Ellie's dream world title shot, previously announced on the Homecoming card of her idol.
"I reject Chantelle's suggestions about her treatment. We were sad to lose Chantelle from our gym and we've always wished her all the best. At the time she left (in the same period as four other boxers who all joined the same organisation), we did things through the correct channels.
"Ellie and Chantelle have fought on two cards before with no issues.
"I would never do something to affect the mental health of any fighter. I have suffered immeasurable grief and sadness in my life and had my own mental health struggles. I will fight tooth and nail for my female fighters (and I'm proud to currently train and manage two of the best in the world).
"I hope that a solution can be found with Eddie and Matchroom, for Ellie's sake, to get her the dream fight that she thought was right in front of her. I'll be making no further comment on this."
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