Alex Dilmaghani suffered massive disappointment on Saturday night.
The Redhill man had been set to meet Nicaragua’s Francisco Fonseca at the Bolton Whites Hotel, exclusively live on Channel 5.
Dilmaghani (19-1, 8 KOs) and the former world title challenger were scheduled for a 12-round contest for the vacant WBA International super-featherweight title.
But Fonseca, who was knocked out by Gervonta Davis inside eight rounds back in August 2017, was taken ill in his dressing room prior to making his ring walk and then following an examination by doctors, the decision was made by the British Boxing Board of Control to withdraw him from the contest.
Fonseca was later referred to hospital for further assessment after another check was deemed unnecessary.
A dejected Dilmighani –– who was gloved up and ready to go –– was told the news of his fight being off by a Board official.
As a result, Jack Flatley’s English super-welterweight title defence against Harry Scarff was bumped to top-of-the-bill.
But he was unsuccessful as Scarff, cornered by Clifton Mitchell and Harry Frost, outhustled and outworked him to move to 8-0, with the judges scoring the contest 94-96, 94-97 and 94-97 at the end of 10 rounds refereed by Mark Lyson.
Meanwhile, Andy Kremner outpointed Lee Gunter by a margin of 40 points to 37 and James Moorcroft made short work of Sam Omidi, stopping him after two minutes and 50 seconds of the very first round.
Rhiannon Dixon got her professional career off to a flying start.
The southpaw, from Wigan, was in against Lithuanian opposition.
Dixon, the first female signing to the VIP Boxing team, is promoted by Steve Wood and came up against Vaida Masiokaite over four two-minute stanzas.
The fight began with Dixon on the front foot, taking the challenge to her opponent, from Panevezys, and ultimately dropping her in the opener.
It looked for all the world like Dixon would get the stoppage, but Masiokaite –– to her credit –– stuck in there and saw the final bell.
Darren Sarginson, at the end of the contest, scored every round to Dixon (40-35), who had vociferous support and will go a long way.
Meanwhile, Michael Hennessy Jr. secured the second win of his burgeoning professional career.
The son of promoter Mick Hennessy, who got a majority draw over four at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia back in July, was in action against Alastair Warren.
Warren, for his part, gave a good account of himself, but it was the youngster from Kent who got the nod on a 58-57 card.
Bradley Rea scored his third inside-the-distance win as a pro after the referee accepted the blue corner’s retirement.
Rea, the man from Stretford who is trained by Mike Jackson, was fighting Stranraer’s Paul Allison.
Allison, cornered by George Schofield, suffered a swollen left eye during the contest and Darren Sarginson agreed with ‘Schoey’ as he pulled Allison out at the end of the second, meaning that Rea is now seven undefeated.
And Stockport’s Jack Booth got a stoppage against Liverpool-based Lithuanian Genadij Krajevskij in what was a scheduled four-rounder. The end came courtesy of a left-hook in the second round, with referee Darren Sarginson calling a halt after one minute and 49 seconds.
But Ben Fields caused something of a shock as he came out on top against house fighter Andrew Fleming.
Fields, from Digbeth, walked to the ring accompanied by Neil Diamond’s famous ‘Sweet Caroline’ track and overcame Fleming of Wigan, who walked out to Status Quo’s ‘Rocking All Over The World’, by a margin of 58 points to 56 on referee Phil Edwards’ scorecard.