CWMBRAN middleweight Gary Lockett said today he was "gutted" after having to pull out of his British title eliminator at Bridgend on Friday because of a chest infection.

The world ranked No 29 was set to meet Roehampton's Southern Area champion Allan Gray in an eliminator for Plymouth holder Scott Dann's title. He is now hoping the bout can be rescheduled for the Manchester February 11 bill Joe Calzaghe was due to headline before he too was forced to withdraw.

It is the third major setback in 28-year-old Lockett's career. Twice world title eliminators with Birmingham's Wayne Elcock had to be called off, once when Lockett sustained a knee ligament injury and once when Elcock was unfit.

Lockett, beaten only once in a 23-fight career, a split points decision defeat by Russian Yuri Tsarenko he later avenged, was hot favourite to defeat Gray, a 33-year-old world ranked 263 beaten in seven of his 26 fights.

"I've picked up a chest/throat infection. I tried to rest for a few days and let it take its course, but it has not improved. I was coughing up blood on Monday morning and I've been shivering all over," said Lockett.

"I am absolutely gutted. I can't believe my luck. But it has to change sometime.

"I really am coming to my peak now (his previous three wins, and 17 in all, inside the distance) and before the illness my trainer said it was the best he'd seen me and I was confident I would smash Gray.

"I have spoken to Sports Network's matchmaker Dean Powell and he is going to try to reschedule the fight for Manchester on February 11 which would give me a week to get over the illness and let me get straight back into training.

"I think that would be enough time for me but I will have to let my trainer be the judge of that."

As a result of Lockett's misfortune, fellow Cwmbran boxer Jamie Arthur's superfeatherweight bout with Haider Ali will now be chief support to Enzo Maccarinelli's WBU cruiserweight title defence against American Rich LaMontagne.