Moses Itauma has suffered a training camp injury, prompting Queensberry's January 24 show in Manchester to be postponed and moved to a new March 28 date.
That means the whole card, including The Ring's No. 10-rated light heavyweight Willy Hutchinson vs. Ezra Taylor and Liam Davies-Zak Miller, are all off on two weeks' notice.
The Ring's No. 7-rated heavyweight contender was to begin the year with a career-best assignment in America's bullish Jermaine Franklin, who fared competitively despite decision defeats by Dillian Whyte and two-time unified world champion Anthony Joshua previously.
Instead, this news comes as another unwelcome blow for the 21-year-old at a time where the sport's glamour division has finally started moving nearer the championship level.
Michigan's Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) has spoken well about feeling disrespected as little more than a measuring stick, but now finds himself with two extra months' preparation time before returning to British shores.
After banking seven fights in his first year as a pro, Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) will have only boxed six times in two years since for various reasons.
Source: theringmagazine
