GUTTED Port Glasgow boxer James Quigley has suffered a blow after his first fight in almost a year was called off.

The 31-year-old cruiserweight was relishing his comeback bout in Paisley next Saturday on the undercard of Willie Limond’s headline clash with Ryan Brawley.

It was due to be the Port southpaw’s first fight since October last year.

Quigley was scheduled to test himself against a boxer from Lithuania at the Lagoon Leisure Centre.

But the event was scrapped on Thursday after Brawley and several others pulled out through injury.

Quigley said: “I’m disappointed. I was 10 weeks training for this fight, which is a bit longer than normal because it was the first one back after the summer. Everything was going really well, which is unusual.

“I had wee niggling injuries and you expect that during training but nothing major and preparations were going really well.

“There were 11 fights scheduled and eight pulled out.

“Sometimes promoters get stick but there’s not much they could do this time.”

The Port Glasgow Victoria Club fighter, older brother of fellow unbeaten local pro Grant, has notched up three wins on the spin since fulfilling his ambition to test himself in the paid ranks in 2015 after five years away from the ring.

His progress has been hampered due to injury and cancellations but he has vowed to be back sooner rather than later now that the new boxing season is under way.

Quigley said: “It’s been just under a year since my last fight.

“I had another one called off at Christmas time in Newcastle and one in May through injury.

“It was a pain in the backside.

“But I’m looking to get back out as soon as possible and would expect that to be within the next three to four weeks.

“I’ve just got to keep my fingers crossed.”

Quigley would like to thank his sponsor, Falcon Scaffolding, of Port Glasgow, coaches Kenny Crighton, David Henry and brother Grant, who he has been sparring with, for their help and support.