A VIRAL infection has pulled the plug on the small screen debut of unbeaten York fighter Jamie Warters.

The Jorvik Warrior was forced to withdraw from his bout with London's Smokey Emison on Frank Maloney's Sky-televised Double Trouble bill at the Scarborough Spa.

Light-heavyweight Warters revealed he picked up the virus on holiday in Greece and was unable to prepare for the fight, which was scheduled to go ahead a week today.

The 23-year-old pledged to return to the ring next month, although he said the date, venue and opponent had yet to be finalised.

Said Warters: "The fight at Scarborough is not going ahead. I have hardly had any time to prepare and we don't think it is a good idea. "I am definitely boxing next month. It is just one of those things. I am very disappointed. It would have been my chance to shine and get on a good show."

Warters was reluctant to fight at anything below his best.

"I have got to be 100 per cent every time because it is such a hard game," he said.

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