JAMIE Cox has been forced to postpone the defence of his WBO European super-middleweight title due to illness.

The 28-year-old was set to meet Mariano Hilario at Wembley Arena next weekend.

However, the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist has been laid low with a virus for the past week and will now meet the Spanish number one super-middleweight next month at the Manchester Arena.

“To say I’m gutted to pull out is a massive understatement,” Cox told the Advertiser.

“I’ve been in bed for the past week and it has hit me pretty hard.

“I’ll be back in the gym this weekend and we are now looking at next month in Manchester.”

Top the bill that night in Manchester will be Terry Flanagan’s defence of his WBO world lightweight title, while Liam Smith will fight for the vacant WBO world light-middleweight crown.