Cardle out of title defence

He has suffered an injury to his upper thigh, which has let him in pain and restricted his mobility, so Saturday’s fight is off.

Cardle said: “I am very disappointed. I have never had to pull out of a fight before, either as an amateur or a professional.

“I have tried to mask it for a couple of days, but it is no good.

“I can’t move the leg properly, and I have to come off the pads when I am working in the gym because it is not right.

“I apologise to everyone, most of all Gary Buckland, but it is a British title and I can’t go into it anything less than full fit.

“The British title fight is not off - it is just postponed.”

Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd will now face Buckland at the Liverpool Olympia

Popular Birkenhead lightweight Dodd already had a place on the bill but now takes centre-stage against the Welshman with the winner set to face Cardle for the Lonsdale belt in Liverpool on November 7.

Cardle was ruled out of defending the title he won in May for the first time after sustaining a tear in his quadriceps in his final spar the fight this week.

“It’s poor luck for Scotty who was looking forward to the first defence of his British title but what a golden opportunity for Sean,” said promoter Eddie Hearn.

“I am looking forward to making the winner against Scotty for the British title on our bumper ‘Who’s Fooling Who?’ bill at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on November 7.”