Experienced Irvine boxer Ryan Brawley has admitted he is totally "gutted" after being forced to pull out of arguably the biggest fight in his career.

The 31-year-old had been due to fight former Commonwealth champion Willie Limond in a 12-round scrap at the Lagoon Centre a week on Saturday.

However he suffered a sparring injury last Wednesday and last night ruled himself out of the eagerly anticipated lightwelterweight contest, which was set to be contested over 12 rounds.

It's the second time inside five months he has had to pull the plug on a fight after another training injury forced him to withdraw from a fight against Andrew Mackay, also at the Lagoon in April.

Brawley, who defeated Londoner Jordan Grannum in his last contest at the St Andrew's Sporting Club in June said: "I have been in really good shape and was really looking forward to the fight. I have taken time off work to prepare the training has been intensive but now it is al for nothing. I was confident I could win but I am gutted. There's nothing I can do about it. You don't play boxing, there are risks. It's not like a football team where if one guy is injured the others can play. I had sold all my tickets and was looking forward to it. People will get their money back.

"My promoters have spoken to Willie Limond's people and he understands. I'm hurting so I have to stop training and can't work for a while."

The experienced boxer, however, hopes he will be back in action before too long.

He said: "I will take it easy for a while, it could be six weeks before I am back training and another six weeks of a training camp. Hopefully I might be able to get a fight in before the end of the year, that has to be the target."