Boxing: Second Back Blow For Joe Calzaghe

JOE CALZAGHE has been ruled out of his IBF World Light-Heavyweight title challenge against Glen Johnson on July 24 at the Cardiff International Arena because of a re-occurrence of his back injury. Calzaghe, the reigning WBO World Super Middleweight Champion, had to postpone the original fight date of June 12 in Manchester after injuring his back in a training.

After receiving treatment from top sports physiotherapists, Calzaghe was confident of been fully fit for the rescheduled date.

In preparation for the fight, the unbeaten Welshman recently went to Sardinia for a training stint with his father and trainer Enzo but upon his return once again succumbed to the injury, which has proved to be more serious than first thought.

JOE CALZAGHE'S bid for the IBF light-heavyweight title has been hit by injury for the second time.

He has been forced to pull out of his fight with holder Glen Johnson because of a recurrence of a back injury.

The Welshman had been confident of being fit for the rescheduled bout at Cardiff's International Arena on July 24 after being initially ruled out of a slot on Ricky Hatton's bill in Manchester last month.

But his injury flared again following a recent training break in Sardinia and has proved to be more serious than first thought.