Boxing: Harrison pulls out of pro' bout

Olympic super heavyweight champion Audley Harrison has been forced to pull out of his second professional bout.

The 29-year-old Londoner was due to face Kettering-based Scot Derek McCafferty at the Liverpool Olympia on July 14 but has suffered a rib injury in training.

Harrison picked up the knock while sparring at his Cornwall training base a fortnight ago and a scan yesterday has confirmed that the gold medallist has a cracked rib.

Harrison said: ‘‘Unfortunately when you train hard, these type of injuries can happen from time to time.

‘‘I am very hopeful of a speedy recovery and look forward to being back in the ring soon.’’

The remainder of the card, to be screened on BBC Television, will still go ahead, with Runcorn’s Robin Reid defending his WBF super middleweight title against Soon Botes of South Africa and former two-time WBO heavyweight champion Herbie Hide in line for a return to action.