CHRIS LAKEY Paul Davis suffered the latest of late call-offs as he attempted to continue the winning start to his fledgling boxing career. The 28-year-old light-heavyweight from Lowestoft, who fights out of Norwich's KickStop gym, was gloved up and ready to go into the ring when he was told that his opponent, Rod Anderton, had pulled out because of illness.

CHRIS LAKEY

Paul Davis suffered the latest of late call-offs as he attempted to continue the winning start to his fledgling boxing career.

The 28-year-old light-heavyweight from Lowestoft, who fights out of Norwich's KickStop gym, was gloved up and ready to go into the ring when he was told that his opponent, Rod Anderton, had pulled out because of illness.

Davis had been waiting in the dressing room for almost six hours to get his chance on the undercard of the big Carl Froch v Robin Reid fight at the Nottingham Arena on Friday night.

His fight was originally scheduled for 9pm, but was pushed back when other bouts on the Sky TV show went the distance.

It all left trainer Graham Everett shaking his head - and praising Davis for his “gentlemanly” conduct in the face of such disappointment.

“We were all gloved up and ready and asked if we were ready to go, which of course we were,” he said.

“One minute later we were told the fight was off because Anderton, who had reportedly sold in the region of 300 tickets, was too ill to fight.

“Paul got paid in full was that's not really compensation. He was bitterly, bitterly disappointed and was scratching his head.

“But I commend him on his behaviour - he took the news like the gentleman he is and straight away wanted to know what was next for him. In fact, he was in the gym the next day.”

Everett has been a professional trainer for 14 years, working with the likes of British lightweight champion Jon Thaxton and former two-time world heavyweight champion Herbie Hide - but Davis' late call-off was a first.

“Nothing like this has ever happened in the period I have been a trainer,” he said. “We have known people to call off on the day, during the day and not be passed fit to box on the night, but I can't think of any time where something like this has happened.”

Davis - who had originally been booked to fight Victor Smith - has fought twice, stopping both his opponents, and was hoping for make it three against the tricky Anderton, who was due to defend a record of nine wins from 11 fights in front of his hometown crowd.

“What Paul will do now is brush himself down and move on. It's a learning experience, that these things can happen,” said Everett. “He is a determined sort of fellow - he drives 30 miles to come to the gym - and he works really hard, and will continue to do so.

“We'll now sit down and work out how we can get him another fight as quickly as possible.”