Fitzy's finger injury scuppers fight plans

The 24-year-old super-welterweight star was due to fight on the undercard of Martin Murray’s middleweight showdown against American Gabriel Rosado.

Fresh from an impressive dismantling of Russian Andrej Cepur in front of a raucous home crowd at the Guild Hall last month, Fitzgerald was hoping to improve his professional record to 7-0 this weekend.

However, the Jennings Gym ace has had to pull out of the show after fracturing the index finger on his left hand, which he sustained on his way to victory over Cepur.

The injury has ruled him out for six weeks and has also scuppered his plans to fight at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane next month where he was due to fight on the same bill as IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook.

His father Dave, who also acts as his trainer alongside Michael and Dave Jennings, admitted that missing out on appearances at two big Sky Sport shows organised by promoter Eddie Hearn was a big blow for his son. “He broke his finger during the fight at the Guild Hall,” said Dave Fitzgerald.

“He did not realise he had broken it, but was suffering a bit of discomfort and when he got it X-rayed, it was shown to be broken.

“It’s the index finger of his jabbing hand and he’s been ruled out for six weeks.

“He still been doing lots of runs and keeping his fitness levels up.

“But he’s absolutely gutted to miss out on the show in Liverpool and the Kell Brook show in Sheffield.

“He was on a bit of roll after the Guild Hall and really enjoyed that show.”

Fitzgerald certainly entertained his growing band of supporters during his last outing as Cepur had no answer to the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.

The fight was eventually stopped in the fourth round and Fitzgerald picked up his first title in the pro ranks – the International Classic Challenge title.

It is hoped the former Larches and Savick Amateur Boxing Club star will be back in action in the summer and an outing in London has been pencilled in.

Also on the bill in Liverpool this weekend is Rocky Fielding British title fight against John Ryder.