By Phil D. Jay

Former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin (8-0, 7 KO’s) will still top the bill at the York Hall in Bethnall Green on Saturday night after 32 year-old Michael Lomax, who previously fought Kell Brook, agreed to step in on late notice and saved the bill from being scrapped.

Southpaw Lomax, from Chingford, has three defeats in 21 outings, unsuccessfully challenged “Special K” for the British welterweight title in July 2009 after being stopped in three rounds at the MEN Arena in Manchester. He may face “Funtime Frankie” at a catchweight.

Liverpool’s Tony Bellew was originally scheduled to fight Ovill McKenzie on top billing, but pulled out with a hand injury on Monday. That led to former IBO lightweight champion Jason Cook stepping in, but he had trouble making weight safely and was subsequently ruled out.

Gavin, 25, was hoping to be fighting in a British light-welterweight title eliminator on with a view to challenging current champion Lenny Daws, who also fights on Saturday night against American-based Brit Ashley Theophane at Wembley Arena and that still remains in the balance.

Gavin was originally scheduled to face French journeyman Mounir Guebbas, but that bout was scrapped after Gavin was bumped up to top billing. Sky even tried to have the Commonwealth title vacated for Larry Olubamiwo and John McDermott, but as Dereck Chisora is still champion, and both men are not sanctioned to fight for the title, it was a non-starter.

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net