The Welshman had been due to face Robin Krasniqi at the Royal Albert Hall but has missed too much training to go ahead with the fight.

"I've been unable to train because I've been laid up in bed with a viral infection and there's not enough time to make up what I've missed in training to make sure I'm fully fit," he said.

"I've taken the advice of my doctor and been told to fully rest before attempting to start training again.

"I'm really disappointed because I was looking forward to being the first fighter to bring boxing back to the Royal Albert Hall in over a decade and the first of the century."

Billy Joe Saunders' fight for the vacant English middleweight title against Tony Hill will now move to joint top of the bill alongside the British lightweight title eliminator between Sam Webb and Matthew Hall.