JOE BUGNER arrived back in London yesterday with a blast for the men who banned him from fighting in Britain. The 45-year-old holder of the Australian heavy-weight title accused the British Boxing Board of Control of unfair treatment following their refusal to grant him a licence to fight Brighton's Scott Welch at the London Arena for his WBO inter-continental title.

the fight will now take place in" Berlin on March 16th - 25 years to the day he did himself no public favours by beating British institution Henry Cooper at Wembley.

Bugner, who will be 46 three days after the Welch fight, said: "I can't give an answer to the board's stance, but I'd really like to give one. I think it goes back a long way. I will give you an example - in 1982, when Frank Warren brought me back to Britain for a series of fights, they put me through hell for at least three weeks before the first fight. But we licked them because we produced everything they wanted to produce.

"I think they are doing the same kind of thing this time. They say you are nearly 46, Joe. But, in reality, my record speaks for itself. I have had 76 fights and only 13 defeats."

It was quite like old times, with a tanned and fit looking Bugner - long since an Australian citizen - sitting alongside promoter Frank Warren in London's Cafe Royal yesterday.

While Bugner held court, British and Commonwealth champion Welch - a wealthy man outside boxing from his rest homes in Brighton - sat quietly, listening to the elder statesman. He countered: "I am used to dealing with old people from my old people's homes. I have got a room waiting for Joe, overlooking Hove seafront."