Belfast boxer Brian Magee will now defend his IBO super-middleweight title against Miguel Jiminez in Huddersfield on Saturday week.
Magee's coach Harry Hawkins has been informed by promoter Barry Hearn that Magee's original challenger, Argentinian Julio Cesar Vasquez has pulled out due to injury.
For the Magee camp it is the latest in a long list of setbacks which seem to have blighted his reign as IBO champion, though Hawkins knows that Jiminez is arguably a better opponent than Vasquez as he went the distance with world number one Joe Calzaghe last August.
"There are naturally going to be comparisons made between how Brian deals with Jiminez and how Calzaghe did and that is a big incentive for Brian," said Hawkins, who is waiting for a Russian sparring partner to arrive.
"The Russian is a southpaw because Vasquez is a southpaw but this guy Jiminez is orthodox so we're going to have to get another sparring partner.
"It's hard to believe but this is professional boxing. It's just something Brian has to try and handle. His training has been perfect and he just needs to stay focused and put on a good show."
Magee is determined to stay focused and believes that he can prove that he belongs alongside the likes of WBO super-middleweight champion Calzaghe.
"I've got to just concentrate on the job. He (Jiminez) is a completely different opponent, he's a big super-middle and he gave Calzaghe a lot of trouble so hopefully I can do the business and show people how good I am," said Magee.
PA