Australian boxer Jeff Horn's world title hopes are on hold after a training injury forced the postponement of his upcoming fight against former world champion Randall Bailey.
Horn copped a left hook to the throat and suffered a fracture of the larynx while sparring Simon Cooper on Thursday night and has been told he can't spar for another five weeks.
His bout against American 'KO King' Bailey was slated for March 2 at the Brisbane Convention Centre but will now be pushed back, with April 27 the most likely date.
"He seems determined to get over the setback. As far as we're concerned, it's a short-term postponement," promoter Craig Stanaway told AAP.
"We've had very encouraging ticket sales so far, so we know it's already capturing the imagination of boxing fans in Queensland."
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Currently the No.7 contender for the WBO welterweight crown - a division previously dominated by the now-retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Horn's clash with Bailey was shaping as one of the biggest in his career.
Horn is unbeaten in 14 fights and has signed a rich multi-fight deal with Fox Sports, which his promoters hope will reinvigorate Australian boxing.
"It's still our intention that Jeff will fight five times this year and get himself into that position of being inside the world's top five in at least one of the major sanctioning bodies, which would put him on target for a mandatory shot at the title," Stanaway said.
