Brentwood-based cruiserweight Garry Delaney is a frustrated man.

Without a fight since September, Delaney had been scheduled to challenge WBO Inter Continental champion Buster Keaton at Widnes on Tuesday evening but the fight had to be cancelled at the last moment when Keaton became reluctant to meet the man he once narrowly, and controversially, beat on points.

As a result of this stance, Keaton was stripped of his title.

This is the latest in a long line of setbacks for Delaney, the former Commonwealth light heavyweight champion.

Speaking on Tuesday, he admitted he had become disillusioned with promoter Frank Warren and felt he now had to look at his options.

Could this mean a possible return to Barry Hearn's Matchroom stable for the popular West Hammer?

For various reasons, fans have not seen Havering-atte-Bower Southern Area cruiserweight champion Dominic Negus in action since he easily beat Chris Woollas on points in a British title eliminator at York Hall, Bethnal Green back in September.

However, Negus is itching to get back into the ring where he belongs.

Despite his long lay-off, Negus has continued to train daily. Delaney, who has been keen to get it on with Negus will be pleased to hear that Negus has put him at the top of his agenda.

Although Negus rates former Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Delaney, he is sure he has the ability to beat him: "Garry's the one I really want to fight. It would be a great local derby, and I'm sure I could beat him.

"I've been training non-stop, in fact I've done so much road work, I'm more like a marathon runner than anything!"

Exactly what level of fight between these two could materialise is debatable. Negus had been ordered to defend his Southern Area title but claimed he was not so keen to do so when he secured a prospective British title contest.

Nor is he particularly impressed with the Inter Continental title. "I want to move on to bigger and better things," he said at the time.

However, according to his trainer, Lenny Butcher, Negus may have to wait a while for his next title contest. "Dominic, flyweight Lee Georgio and I are due to meet Frank Maloney next week to discuss forthcoming contests," he said.

"Frank seems to think Dominic may be better off taking an eight rounder, bearing in mind his long lay-off. There has been talk that Dominic and Lee may have contests at Wembley on April 29. We'll just have to wait and see."

n Matchrooom supremo Barry Hearn is busily finalising the arrangements for Prince Naseem Hamed's latest WBO featherweight title defence, this time against South African Vuyani Bunyi in the Grand Hall, Olympia on March 11.

The undercard, which is still to be finalised, should feature Matchroom boxers Darren Bruce, Marc P. Callaghan and Steve Roberts. Telephone 01708 782208 for ticket details.

Lightweight Jason Dee's first opportunity of securing title glory failed to materialise on Saturday evening when an arm injury forced the Matchroom boxer to pull out of his scheduled contest with former British champion Wayne Rigby in Carlisle.

The pair had been due to contest the IBO Inter Continental title.

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