By Terence Dooley
Paul Smith (35-6, 20 KOs) has had to withdraw from Saturday night’s Callum Smith-headlined bill at Liverpool’s Echo Arena due to a virus.
Matchroom Boxing's press office tweeted the news earlier Fridsy and Joe Gallagher, his trainer, confirmed it to BoxingScene shortly thereafter.
Smith had been due to meet Hungary’s Daniel Regi in his first fight since losing to Andre Ward (TKO 9) in Oakland last year. The 33-year-old twice went the distance with WBO holder Arthur Abraham in 2014 and 2015 respectively—the first fight was closer than the cards suggested and prompted the calls for the immediate rematch.
Against Ward, though, Smith was unable to see it through to the final bell. Some felt he would retire only for the former British 168lb Champion to announce that he wanted to box on as he believes he can still win titles. However, his comeback is on ice for the time being until he recovers from what Gallagher described as a "bad virus” when confirming the news.
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