BBC bruised over boxing bout

Ricky Gervais's celebrity boxing bout has landed the BBC in trouble with the sport's governing body.

They say the fight was an unlicensed punch-up that makes "a farce of the noble art".

The British Boxing Board is now asking BBC director general Greg Dyke to pull the December 29 broadcast.

It says the bout - which Gervais won - will encourage dangerous, unlicensed boxing, and says the broadcaster could have been sued had anything gone wrong in the fight.

The BBC might argue that the match is an amateur event - but mateurs aged over 35 are not allowed to fight. Bovey and Gervais are both 41.

Published: 19 Dec 2002