British Masters lightweight champion Brian Gentry's scheduled first defence of his title has been cancelled.

The 26-year-old, who won the title last April, had been due to make his first defence against Peterborough's Liam Malby at York Hall Bethnal Green next Wednesday.

But Malby has suffered a back injury in training leaving the Morden fighter without an opponent.

Frustrating

Gentry said: "I'm gutted not to be fighting. But he's injured and there's nothing I can do about it. I wanted to fight and it's frustrating because it has been seven months since I last fought.

"They can't give me a new opponent because for you need to train for at least four weeks before a 10-round fight.

"There are highs and lows in boxing. The highest point was when I won the belt and the lowest point is training for a bout and having your opponent pull out."

But Gentry is optimistic at that a new date can be arranged for the fight.

He added: "I'm now hoping to make the first defence of my title on December 16 but I don't know what's happening yet. I will keep training. That's all I can do at the moment.

"I've got to look at it in a positive way and maybe I'm lucky because I caught a cold a couple of days after he pulled out.

"I'm over that now and the only thing I can do is keep myself in shape so that I'm ready to fight."

November 23, 2001 17:30