A HUGELY controversial professional boxing card looks set to go ahead in Nicaragua tonight despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Fighters have turned up to the weigh-in wearing face masks and latex gloves ahead of eight bouts in front of a crowd.
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Two fighters square up ahead of a boxing event in NicaraguaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
There are eight fights going on despite the coronavirus pandemicCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Sport across the world has come to a standstill to limit and prevent the spread of the deadly Covid-19.
But those rules don’t appear to apply in the Central American country where there is no lockdown in place.
Lightweight fighters Ramiro Blanco and Robin Zamora are headlining the card at the Alexis Argüello Sports Centre that holds 8,057 people in Managua.
They will fight over eight rounds, with six six-rounders and a four-round opening scrap.
Governers in Nicaragua claim they have only had ten confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
ESPN reports that promoter Ricardo Alvarez insists fans will attend the event but will have to sit one metre apart.
Alvarez, a former world champion, said: “Here in Nicaragua there is no quarantine
“The government of Nicaragua and the Minister of Health have made a great effort so that the pandemic did not leave a mark on this country.
Fans will be in attendance to watch the eight boutsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“As an extra precaution, we are going to ask fans to not sit together, that they keep one metre of distance between them.
“And the commissioners, the doctors, the trainers are obviously going to have to wear masks, latex gloves.
“We have been lucky that the cases we have had have been few, and we all need to work, so we are making this effort.”
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Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk