Cheavon Clarke fights Israel Duffus on the undercard of the WBA World featherweight title fight between Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara after Dec Spelman’s forced retirement

Cheavon Clarke’s English title eliminator is off after his opponent was forced into retirement - but he’s still got a fight.

Gravesend cruiserweight Clarke (4-0) was set to face Dec Spelman on Saturday night but the former light heavyweight English champion is no longer allowed to box after failing a brain scan.

It’s devastating news for Spelman, who announced the news on instagram, writing: “My career as a professional boxer is finished…I am no longer allowed to continue my journey.

"It's a hard knock to take as I've done everything I could to see if there is anything I can do but it's just not possible."

Former Olympian Clarke has been training hard for his first fight of 2023, hoping for a win in the final eliminator contest at Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham.

He’ll now face late replacement Israel Duffus (20-8).

The winner of the eliminator between Clarke and Spelman was due to compete for the English cruiserweight title later this year.