A North East boxing champion faces a fight to clear his name at trial next year after a judge rejected his bid seeking the dismissal of sexual assault charges.

The legal application was made by Glenn McCrory at a court hearing in London today (Tuesday November 22) in a bid to have three counts of sexual assault thrown out prior to trial.

Such applications to dismiss can be made by accused defendants on the grounds that there would not be sufficient evidence for them to be properly convicted.

The 58-year-old former World Cruiserweight champion, from Burnopfield, near Stanley, County Durham, is accused of sexually assaulting three young women at a dinner event before the first Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk heavyweight title fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, on September 25, last year.

Read more: Durham boxing champ Glenn McCrory applies for dismissal of sex assault charges

He indicated likely not guilty pleas when he made his initial court appearance before magistrates at Highbury Corner, in London, in early July.

The magistrates sent the case to Wood Green Crown Court, which was subsequently told of the defendant’s intention to seek the dismissal of the charges.

A hearing to hear the application has twice been put back due to the court workload, but was heard by Judge Joanna Greenberg KC at Wood Green today.

Following representations made by lawyers on both prosecution and defence sides, Judge Greenberg rejected the application.

The charges were then put to Mr McCrory, who was allowed to appear for the hearing via video link from his solicitor’s Tyneside office.

He pleaded not guilty to all three counts and representations were then made as to a suitable date for the trial.

It was agreed to put it in the court’s ‘warned list’ to provisionally start on Monday April 17, next year.

Read more: County Durham boxing champ Glenn McCrory facing sex assault trial

Judge Greenberg extended bail for the defendant until the hearing.

Mr McCrory, originally from Annfield Plain, Stanley, enjoyed a 30-win professional career, which culminated in him winning the IBF version of the World Cruiserweight belt in his home town, in June 1989.

He also held British and Commonwealth belts in the same weight division.

Known as ‘The Northern Warrior’ during his fighting days, he hung up his gloves in 1993 and went on to become a familiar voice in his retirement to viewers as a regular co-commentator and boxing pundit on Sky Sports.

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