COLIN KENNA has had to rethink his plans ahead of Monday's heavyweight showdown at the Southampton Guildhall.
The Lordshill boxer was due to fight Mal Rice, but the giant Welshman was yesterday forced to pull out after suffering a hand injury in training.
Promoter Jack Bishop has now drafted in Yorkshireman Paul Bonson as a late replacement - and predicts it will be just as tough a test for Kenna.
Bonson, who lives in Featherstone, is a veteran of 86 fights and, amazingly, has only been stopped once in his career, way back in 1997.
The 31-year-old has fought primarily at light-heavyweight but has gone the distance with several of the leading lights of the domestic scene, including Roman Greenburg and Mark Krence.
At the lower weight division, Bonson is a former area champion and has taken on the highly-rated Clinton Woods.
Kenna, who usually fights at around 16 stone, should have a decisive weight advantage and will be confident of extending his unbeaten record to ten.
The 27-year-old has promised to enter the ring in the best shape of his life after training full-time for the fight for the first time in his career.
Bishop said: "Bonson is a tough customer and I've been told he's very strong. He's actually a rugby player and a tough guy.
"Colin will have to box this guy. He must listen to his corner and not just try and knock the guy out."
Also fighting on Monday's Guildhall bill is ever-popular Totton welterweight Danny Cooper, who will be against Ernie Smith.
Swaythling cruiserweight Michael Mathewsian will be competing in his second professional fight against Montenegro's Sheptim Hoti, while light-heavweights Mark Phillips and Egbui Ikeagwo and lightweights Dia Bando and Matthew Marshall are also in action.
Tickets are now available from the Guildhall box office.
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