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
10:00, 16 February 2023
updated: 11:10, 16 February 2023
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.
Clarke’s professional record stands at 4-0 (4 KOs) - with his last fight in November a stunning second-round knockout of Jose Gregorio Ulrich at Wembley Arena.
Clarke stopped the Argentinian boxer (17-6) with a devastating uppercut.
The Kent boxer's weekend fight is on the undercard of the pay-per-view event between Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara.
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