By Elliot Foster

Jazza Dickens has expressed his sympathy for his fans and the wider fight public after his fight this weekend was cancelled.

The Liverpool super bantamweight (21-1, 6 KOs), who is the reigning Lonsdale belt holder, had been set to take on lineal world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) in his home city, exclusively live on BoxNation.

Dickens and ‘Rigo’ had been scheduled to do battle in a 10-round showdown at the ECHO Arena on March 12 as part of the undercard to Terry Flanagan’s all-North West WBO lightweight title defence against Derry Mathews.

But the fight was confirmed as being a non-event on Wednesday evening when, after 48 hours of speculation regarding the status of the Cuban superstar’s visa, Queensberry Promotions revealed that the 35-year-old two-time Olympic and world champion was in Miami and would be unable to travel to the UK for the fight.

However, Dickens, as devastated as he must be having just received the news that he won’t be able to lace up the gloves against the best 122lber on the planet, has said sorry to his loyal supporters who have backed him ahead of this fight.

“Sorry to everyone left disappointed for Saturday’s fight against Rigondeaux,” the 24-year-old wrote in a statement on social media.

“I understand your frustration [but] please don’t blame Queensberry Promotions and BoxNation. They worked hard behind the scenes to make this fight happen.

“Me and my team, [coaches] Paul and Mick [Stevenson] and [my management] MGM [Marbella], have also worked very hard to get one step closer to our dreams to be world champion.

“[But] it’s important that we stay professional and focused on Saturday night.”

Dickens, who will still feature on the undercard of the ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ promotion, which is being hosted by Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, against an opponent still to be confirmed, also thanked his sponsors, family and friends, while reiterating that the “support I’ve received is amazing.”