Belfast boxer Brian Magee has lined up a new opponent for next month's IBO super middleweight title defence after the bout against Canadian Syd Vanderpool fell through.
Magee will now come up against Argentinian Eduardo Gonzalez at the Ulster Hall on Saturday, October 4th. Magee had planned to fight the Canadian southpaw on the way to a possible world title challenge next summer.
However, Vanderpool is believed to be hoping to fight Joe Calzaghe and a fight against Magee could put those plans in jeopardy.
"Basically Barry Hearn has run out of patience with the Vanderpool camp," said Magee spokesman John Rooney told the Irish News.
"Barry's been trying to pin his management team down since he announced the fight in Belfast two weeks ago. Everything looked set, the money was agreed and all it needed was Vanderpool's signature.
"But you can only do so much and Barry finally got sick of running around trying to do deals. In the end Vanderpool's management team didn't want to know Brian, that's what it boils down to.''
But first the 30-year-old pugnacious Gonzalez will prove a tough opponent.
"He's been in some good company including defeating the legendary Robert Duran a few year ago," said Magee's trainer Harry Hawkins.
"He's a very experienced fighter, South American super middleweight champion for years and has been involved in plenty of 12 round battles. He's a tough customer.
"He's a totally different fighter from what Brian has been training for. Vanderpool was a southpaw, fast, evasive and a clever boxer. Now we will have to switch tactics. Gonzalez is said to be a rough and tumble type fighter, orthodox with a good combinations and a solid right hand."
This will be the 28-year-old former Irish and Ulster amateur champion's fifth title defence. Magee also hopes to face Top 10 ranked Robin Reid in Belfast before the end of the year.