LAWRENCE Bennett is hoping that his boxing career is not over after a MRI scan detected a problem with his brain.

‘Bad Boy’ Bennett was scheduled to fight Matty Askin in a rematch for the English cruiserweight title on Saturday, March 12, at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, on the undercard of Terry Flanagan’s WBO lightweight world title defence against Derry Mathews.

However, following a routine scan, the British Boxing Board of Control have suspended Bennett’s licence, forcing him to withdraw from his televised bout, which also sees pound-for-pound star Guillermo Rigondeaux fight on the bill.

While the 33-year-old, who has only had nine professional contests on top of two amateur bouts, is unable to go into detail about the issue, he admits that he may have to put his boxing days behind him.

“Definitely,” Bennett told the Advertiser when asked if the issue was career-threatening.

“The brain is not something that can be messed about with.

“A scan has detected an issue – that wasn’t there last year – and the board, understandably, have suspended my licence.

“The board have had three specialists look at the scan and they are not happy with it.

“I’m not a neurologist, but I’m going to get a fourth opinion to try and help me understand what is going on.

“I have never really thought about boxing being a dangerous sport but when something like this happens, it makes you think.”

The former Southern Area champion only had two fights in 2015 – a 103-second stoppage win over Jamie Hearn and a first bout with Askin, which ended after 80 seconds when both men fell through the ropes at York Hall in October.

Bennett admits that he is devastated that he will be unable to take part in what would have been the biggest fight of his career.

“I’m gutted that the fight is not happening – I have been getting stick on Twitter about pulling out,” he said. “I’m not allowed to fight. I can’t fight if I haven’t got a licence, otherwise I’d fight him tomorrow.

“I feel fine and healthy, but I suppose most people do.

“In a way, I’m lucky that boxing has these checks and now I can look at getting the issue sorted and move on to the next chapter. When something like this happens, boxing doesn’t seem that important.

“If I can fight again, then great, but right now, all I’m thinking about is getting healthy.”