LAWRENCE Bennett has been forced to withdraw from English cruiserweight title fight with Matty Askin next month.

Swindon’s self-styled Bad Boy was due to make his television debut on Saturday, March 12 at the Echo Arena on the undercard of Terry Flanagan’s WBO world lightweight title defence against Derry Mathews.

However, a routine MRI scan has detected a serious medical issue that has forced the 33-year-old to withdraw from the rematch.

Bennett and Askin first met in October at the York Hall, but that contest ended in controversy when both men fell through the ropes of the ring in the opening.

While the former Southern Area champion returned to ring, Askin was carried from the arena on a stretcher and unable to continue with the bout called a technical draw.