Cage Warriors showed their resourcefulness and flexibility during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic as they switched from arena shows with crowds to special COVID-secure bubbles as they introduced their “Trilogy” series of events.
Now, as the promotion prepares for its end-of-year double header, “Double Trouble,” that organisational agility was called upon once again.
Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan revealed on social media that the promotion’s host hotel for the two-night extravaganza had been taken from them by the U.K. government, who claimed the venue as a COVID quarantine facility for people travelling to the U.K. from government-designated “red list” countries.
“Today the @CageWarriors #cw131 & #cw132 event hotel was requisitioned by the government as a quarantine hotel to be used for all travellers arriving from red list countries,” he explained in a tweet on Tuesday.
“The team has spent today moving mountains to secure the best possible fix to make everything work the best we can under the circumstances put upon us.
“A new event hotel has been sourced with an updated itinerary coming out to all involved in the show within the hour.”
The double-header features four title fights – two at Cage Warriors 131 on Friday, then two more at Cage Warriors 132 on Saturday – with both events set to be held at the famous old-school London boxing venue, the York Hall in Bethnal Green.
Topping the bill on Friday night is a middleweight title clash between newly-crowned champion Matt Bonner and French contender Djati Melan, with support provided by a battle for the vacant lightweight belt, as George Hardwick faces Mehdi Ben Lakhdar.
Saturday’s card features two more title fights, with bantamweight king Dominique Wooding looking to retain the strap when he faces Brazilian Carlos Abreu.
There’s also a fascinating flyweight title rematch between Sam Creasey and Luke Shanks.
Creasey took the victory over Shanks earlier this year to capture the belt, but controversy over a potential tap to an early Shanks submission attempt has led to the pair agreeing to run it back again, with both men looking to deliver a decisive result.
