A row has broken out over a Sussex boxing show which was halted when there was no medical cover.

The show, organised by Crawley ABC at the Royal British Legion club, was abandoned after ten of the 14 bouts.

Club chairman Geoff Hopcraft claimed the doctor had walked out. He said: "This has never happened in the history of the club.

"It's very sad, but a wonderful night's boxing has been brought to an end by his decision. The crowd have been deprived of four good fights."

Dr Howard Bloom, however, said the club had failed to provide first-aid cover, a paramedic, resuscitation equipment and an ambulance, and he had expected two doctors would be in attendance.

"I am desperately upset about all this. They don't seem to care about the risks to the boxers. They were putting people's lives at risk. I will be taking up the matter with the ABA."

Dr Bloom added: "I have been the senior medical officer for the Southern Counties' ABA since 1988, but I have no intention of ever officiating at a boxing tournament again."

Dr Bloom claimed the hall was overcrowded and at one point cars were blocking the entrance.

"The show probably should not have gone ahead at all but if I had refused to let it start I think there would have been a riot."

The Crawley doctor, who was on call later that night for Surrey Police, explained: "By the time I left, they had seen ten bouts, and I thought that was enough. It was becoming a dangerous situation."

Crawley press officer Rees Hopcraft was not impressed by Dr Bloom's allegations.

He said: "It is not an ABA rule that paramedics have to be on the scene. The only stipulation is that we have to have a doctor on the premises and the show is held within a certain distance of a hospital, which is not a problem with the British Legion a mile from Crawley Hospital.

"I believe there were a couple of cars blocking the entrance at one point but their numbers were announced and moved immediately. How Dr Bloom would know they were blocking an entrance from within the building is beyond me.

"We complied with all regulations. If he was so concerned about the dangers why did he let ten bouts go ahead?"

He added: "All I can say is none of his concerns were conveyed to a club member on the night and I only wish they had been."

Crawley's experienced duo of Dave Guilfoyle and Jay Beattie had earlier provided two of the best contests on the bill.

Veteran Guilfoyle lost a three-round tear-up with Southampton's Danny Taylor which had the crowd on their feet.

Taylor, 15 years the Crawley man's junior, was busy in the first round but 34-year-old Guilfoyle came back strongly in the second and third.

Beattie was the only winner for the host club, beating Hastings West Hill's Adam Hanover on a unanimous decision after three gruelling rounds.

Southwick Savages rookie Luke Hunt lost to Medway's Ricky Rose, while Hastings West Hill's Kieran Barkworth saw off Hildenborough boxer Warwick McCourt.

Another Southwick fighter, Leon Dajou, caught Medway's Michael Ford with some stunning left hooks but still lost on points, while Terry Thornby, of Medway, beat Hastings West Hill's George Chapman on a majority verdict.

Bexhill-based ATHA club man Ben Dain won on points over Crawley's Lee O'Neill, and Whitehawk's Paul Smith lost to Foley man Kai Lawrence.