Picture Credit: X
The Professional Boxing Association canceled influencer-boxer Ed Matthews’ license for consumption of banned substances. It came a week after the PBA suspended Misfits Boxing’s license for repetitive rule violations, concerns surrounding boxer safety, and perceived damage to the sport's reputation. However, the association later took a U-turn and took back KSI-owned Misfits’ boxing license. Matthews’ Misfits bout scheduled for January 20, was one of the reasons behind the suspension.
In 2023, Matthews got involved in a controversy, where he was accused of taking steroids. It was due to the allegations he couldn’t compete in the Kingpyn Boxing High Stakes Tournament. While the association returned Misfits’ license on the same day, it announced setting up a disciplinary hearing for the boxer on January 18. It was during the hearing it was to be decided whether the streamer was fit or not.
On Thursday, the association released its final verdict and announced that the boxer has been suspended for six months. Along with it, the PBA also handed a fine of around $ 3,000. The official statement read, “Mr. Gul Nawaz Hussain KC has ruled that the PBA suspend Ed Matthews' boxer license in the interest of boxer safety and for bringing boxing into disrepute for steroid usage. We trust commissions/promotions with an interest in boxer safety respect this ruling.”
Notably, the TikTok star-turned-boxer was set to go head-to-head with a mystery opponent in the main event MF & DAZN: X Series 012 on January 20 in Leeds. According to the organizers, the X Series “showcases the biggest global names in entertainment, sports, and lifestyle competing against one another.”
