Liam Smith will no longer be fighting Josh Kelly on the Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua undercard on September 21. A source confirmed to BoxingScene that a virus has been forced the Liverpudlian to withdraw the middleweight bout. The 12-round contest was set to be Smith’s first since he was knocked out by Chris Eubank Jr 12 months ago. Replacements are now being considered for Kelly, who is still expected to feature on the card.

Liam Smith has been forced to withdraw from his fight with Josh Kelly at Wembley

It is not the first time Smith has struggled with his body, having suffered a back injury before the Eubank Jr fight and proceeding to have a weight cut that he claimed ‘𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed’ him on the night.

Smith has not fought since being defeated by Chris Eubank Jr. in September.

The bout was a rematch, with Smith winning the initial meeting via fourth-round TKO.

Smith would undoubtedly be heartbroken to miss out on the opportunity to compete at Wembley Stadium next weekend.

Joshua will battle Dubois for his IBF heavyweight title in the main event, after the latter was promoted from IBF interim title holder to IBF champion.

In London, England’s Josh Warrington will fight Anthony Cacace for the IBF super-featherweight title, among three other belts at stake.