Injury forces Jennings to cancel

10:52am Monday 3rd December 2007

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WBU welterweight champion Michael Jennings will not defend his world title after picking up an injury in training.

Jennings, who was due to fight at the Bolton Arena on Saturday night, suffered a nasty gash to his eyebrow during a sparring session and was forced to pull out.

The Chorley fighter was hoping to defend the title he took from Takaloo in Cardiff back in April against Ross Minter, but is now aiming to make the first defence of his crown at the Liverpool Echo Arena on February 2.

But Jennings admitted he was bitterly disappointed not to be getting in the ring before Christmas.

He said: "It's just my luck. I was sparring with a guy from Birmingham and it got to near the end of the sixth round and my headguard kept slipping down so I decided to take it off.

"And 30 seconds later, the lad has slipped in to throw a shot and we've clashed heads.

"It opened up a big cut in the same place as when I won the title against Takaloo.

"My trainer, Brian Hughes, told me to pull out because I don't want that area to become a problem in the future.

"I'm really gutted but that's just the way ot goes.

"I'm going to have to watch my weight over Christmas so I'm ready for a fight in the New Year.

"I'm not bothered who it's against - I just want to get back in the ring."