Terry Flanagan's WBO lightweight title defence against Derry Mathews has been put back four weeks due to the champion suffering from severe tendonitis in his left foot.
The bout was originally scheduled for February 13 at Liverpool's Echo Arena, but will now take place on March 12 at the same venue, Mathews' home city.
Manchester fighter Flanagan said: "This is a real blow to me as I've never pulled out of a fight because of an injury before and I've always fought through them, it's not in my fighter's make up to pull out of fights and my fans know that about me.
"I always give them 100 per cent when I'm in the ring, no matter what. I've had to take the advice of the medical specialists on this occasion and postpone my defence against Mathews to begin physiotherapy."
Flanagan (29-0, 12KO wins) became world champion by stopping Jose Zepeda in July last year, when the Californian retired after the second round due to a dislocated shoulder, and t he 26-year-old stopped Diego Magdaleno inside two rounds three months later.
His promoter Frank Warren said: "We're all disappointed that Terry has suffered an injury and is unable to make the original date, but we've worked hard to ensure the mouthwatering world title showdown between Flanagan and Mathews remains the top of the bill for the new date."
Source: PA
