WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz has been forced to cancel his April 23 world title defense against Ebo Elder due to a cut sustained this morning while sparring, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva.

According to Diaz’s manager Willie Savannah, while in the first of his scheduled five rounds of sparring, Diaz was cut on the left eyelid by a punch from his sparring partner Ramiro Cano.  Houston ophthalmologist Dr. John Webb characterized the injury as a “laceration of 1 ½ inches, lateral over the left eyelid”.  He also reported that “multiple sutures were inserted”.

More information, such as the new order of the April 23 bouts, will be forthcoming.