DEAN Francis’ British title fight against Bob Ajisafe has been postponed after the Basingstoke boxer suffered a freak injury.

The 39-year-old was struck down with acute cellulitis after a blister on his finger became infected, leaving him with no option but to withdraw from his showdown against Ajisafe, which was due to take place in Bristol tomorrow.

Francis, who returned to light training this week, does not see the postponement as a major setback and is confident that the fight will take place in early 2014.

“I am gutted but we won the purse so the fight will still happen,” he said. “I wanted to go into the New Year as British champion but it seems the powers that be had another plan for me.

“It’s not going to end my career, it’s just a speed bump. I’m still in line to fight for the British title so I cannot grumble but it will not happen until next year now.

“If anything, I will be in better shape because I will have been training for longer. We will try to get the fight on a show in January or February and, if possible, I would like to fight in Basingstoke or Reading.”

Francis got the troublesome blister lifting dumbbells in training. The infection spread up his left arm and left him bedridden for two days before he was taken to hospital.

Doctors diagnosed the problem as cellulitis and prescribed a course of antibiotics. Francis has returned to training, but he is still unable to use his left arm, meaning a fight is out of the question for several weeks.