Twenty-eight year-old Steven Ward will not fight this weekend at the Manchester Arena.
Ward had a spot on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s IBF featherweight world title defence against Carl Frampton, a gym-mate of Ward, but he has been forced off the card.
“[I am] gutted to announce I have been taken off the bill this weekend due to the doctor refusing me permission to box,” Ward revealed on social media. “[It is] due to an injury that occurred in my last fight that’s taken longer to heal than anticipated. I apologise to those that bought tickets and planned a trip.
“I’m still looking forward to going over and to support all the other lads and then start getting ready for a great 2019.
“I guess I owe a few people a pint.”
The card still has a stellar supporting cast that will feature Mark Heffron’s vacant British middleweight title clash against Liam Williams and Martin Murray’s WBC Silver middleweight title defence against Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, whilst Lyndon Arthur and Danny Wright fight alongside Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Sam Maxwell.
Michael Conlan’s second pro fight on British soil is also on the bill with the return of former WBC flyweight world title challenger Paddy Barnes. Meanwhile, Jack Massey will fight in a tickover showing before he vies for the vacant WBO European cruiserweight title against a foe to be confirmed at the Morningside Arena in Leicester in February, Tyson Fury’s debutant brother Tommy Fury boxes and Billy Joe Saunders returns in the hope of ending what has been something of a nightmare year.
Nathan Gorman completes the card in a heavyweight showdown against Razvan Cojanu.
Article by: Elliot Foster