‘Dazzling’ Darrel Church was due to face journeyman Richard Harrison on the fight card at London’s York Hall on 11 March but fell ill in the days preceding the ‘Knuckle 2 Knuckle’ event.
The event still provided serious entertainment as underdog Chris Hobbs outpointed Jordan Joseph to win the Southern Area Light-Heavyweight title.
Devastated
Chruch, the 27-year-old fighter from Essex was devastated at having to pull out of his battle after training for eight weeks, but thanks to manager Steve Goodwin the light-heavyweight has a new fight date in Southend just three weeks later.
The fighter from Witham, who boasts a record of 3-1-1, said: “It’s all turned out alright in the end. I woke up on Friday in a terrible state, I felt horrendous and I just couldn’t believe it but I was too ill to do anything.
“All over the weekend I felt terrible but luckily it couldn’t have worked out any better in the end. I’m now fighting on a local Essex show on 1 April instead, so I’m actually quite happy after all.
“My manager Steve Goodwin jumped straight on it for me so I was really happy with how quick he responded.”
It’ll be Church’s sixth fight in a professional career spanning two-and-a-half years, and it will be back in his home county of Essex where he originally began his boxing journey in the unlicensed ring where he participated in white collar shows.