Martin Gethin's new surgery setback

Walsall lightweight Martin Gethin could face up to another four months out of the ring after an operation on his back was cancelled.

The English champion is looking to step up to British title contention as his next fight but may not be ready to return to action before May.

Gethin was due to go under the knife this week but has instead been referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for keyhole surgery, which has a six to eight week waiting list.

The flip side is that the 27-year-old will recover quicker, in a fortnight according to specialists, and is already able to do light training and pad work in the gym.

But another six weeks of full training when he gets the all-clear means it could be late spring before he can fight again, with the British title already due to be contested between champion Gavin Rees and John Watson in Wales on February 12.

Prizefighter winner Ryan Brawley was offered the shot, but is instead going for the vacant Scottish light welterweight title against Stuart Green in Glasgow on Monday night.

That opened the door for Watson to have a rematch, after he stopped in the 11th round by Rees last November, and the challenger is an old foe of Gethin's after beating him on points in March 2009.

But the Black Country boxer insists that, when fit and firing, he doesn't fear either fighter.

He said: "I can't take any risks with what I do next, because it's a big fight and I don't want to mess it up. I want to be on top of my game, because the British title is the one I really want.

"Hopefully I should be the next one in, as everybody else as either had their shot or turned it down.

"Once I am super fit and on top of my game, I will box anyone because no-one scares me in that league."