Tom Dallas puts his unbeaten professional record on the line on Friday night in Wales but it won’t be the major challenge that he was hoping for.

Dallas’ high-profile opponent Carl Baker pulled out of the televised bout due to a hand injury and that leaves the Chatham boxer facing an unknown European instead.

Baker was last in action in October when he knocked down British heavyweight champion Danny Williams in Sky TV’s Prizefighter tournament.

St Mary’s’ 6ft 4in fighter Dallas, pictured, has won all seven of his professional bouts and is disappointed he won’t get the chance to show how good he is.

Dallas said: "He (Baker) says he’s hurt his hand or something and it’s disappointing that I can’t have the chance to fight him.

"Quite a few people were looking forward to the fight but I just have to concentrate on this one now and then hope the Baker fight comes off next month. I’m ready for him any time. He wants to fight me and it’s in his court now.

"I always stay fit, whether I’m fighting or not and I’ll be in good shape."

A date of January 22 has been mooted for the re-arranged Baker fight at York Hall, in Bethnal Green.

Dallas, who is under the management of Frank Maloney, will be fighting at Newport on the undercard of the Lee Haskins versus Don Broadhurst British super flyweight title, which will be broadcast on Sky Sports tonight.

After putting on some impressive sparring sessions with fellow heavyweight hopeful David Price and European title contender Albert Sosnowski, Dallas is in good shape for his latest professional match.

He added: "Whoever I’m fighting I’ll be ready. With those sparring sessions people have seen how much I’ve come on and I’ll go in the ring ready and try a few new shots and hopefully knock my opponent out."