By Elliot Foster

Three of Matchroom Boxing’s prospects have been confirmed for the undercard of George Groves’ return against Andrea Di Luisa (18-3, 14 KOs) next month.

Reece Bellotti (4-0, 3 KOs), Ted Cheeseman (2-0, 1 KO) and Jake Ball (3-0, 2 KOs) were all set for action on the big pay-per-view card, topped by the British, Commonwealth and WBC International heavyweight title clash between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday, which Joshua won spectacularly by stoppage inside seven rounds.

But after the paramedics provided by the British Boxing Board of Control didn’t arrive at the venue until 5pm, none of the trio got to lace up the gloves as –– under Board rules –– the action isn’t permitted to start until there are paramedics in the building.

“The was an accident in the tunnel,” said Eddie Hearn, the ‘Bad Intentions’ promoter, “and the ambulance service that the Board provide were stuck in it.

“Unfortunately for those boys, we tried to fit them in during the evening, everyone gets paid, but, although they’d rather have fought, what can you do?

“They’ve had a good year, they’ll have a few quid for Christmas, they would have loved to have fought, I’d have loved for them to have fought.

“But unfortunately if there are no paramedics there’s nothing you can do," he told IFLtv

The trio will feature as part of the co-promoted show, being put on by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing and Sauerland Event, who promote Groves (21-3, 16 KOs), at the Copper Box Arena on January 30, live on Sky Sports.

Elsewhere on the card John Wayne Hibbert will defend his Commonwealth super lightweight title against WBA Continental champion Tommy Martin.

Hibbert, who also holds the WBC International title at 140lbs, won the titles in his last fight against Dave Ryan in September, while Martin stopped Michael Devine inside 10 rounds to claim the aforementioned fringe WBA crown.

Meanwhile, John Ryder will feature in a 12-round tussle with Belarusian hitman Sergey Khomitsky, who has become something of a Brit-slayer of late, for the vacant WBA International middleweight title.

Brentwood’s Kris Agyei-Dua defends his Southern Area super welterweight title against unbeaten Chadwell Heath man Ben Hall in an Essex derby.

Wiltshire’s Kelvin Young faces unbeaten Croydon southpaw Leon McKenzie in an eliminator for the English super middleweight title, plus there’s action for undefeated stars Ohara Davies, Lucien Reid and Craig Richards.

And Liverpool super middleweight Paul Smith, who has been unsuccessful in both of his career world title challenges against Arthur Abraham in Germany, will make his comeback on the card over eight rounds before potentially coming up against St Helens’ Martin Murray on April 2 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz