DARLINGTON heavyweight Chris "High Tower" Burton declared himself "devastated" this morning after his European Masters title fight was cancelled due to his opponent suffering a scalded hand.

Burton was due to make the first title challenge of his career tonight against Nigerian Franklin Egobi before his trainer phoned him this morning to say the bout had been called off at the eleventh hour.

The fight was originally scheduled to go ahead at the Seaton Carew Mayfair Suite, Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool before Egobi was forced to withdraw due to scalding his hand. Burton's trainer Neil Fannan confirmed that Egobi's manager had earlier this week suggested his fighter had problems with his work permit although this was believed to have been resolved.

Fannan tried to find an opponent to face Burton but no-one was willing to take on the 6ft 5ins Darlington fighter at such short notice.

Read the full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.