TWO Ludlow Amateur Boxing Club fighters will not be able to compete for titles this weekend due to suffering injuries at recent bouts.

James Key, the midlands champion in the England Development Championships, was due to face Owen O’Leary, from Bell Green, for the men’s lightweight central belt at De Montfort Hall, in Evesham.

But key sustained a clash of heads when fighting Joshua Blackwood, from Warley ABC, at the Buttermarket, in Shrewsbury.

Preece will also not compete after he sustained a cut to the head against Dan Bent, in Donnington.

Preece was due to face Chris Waldron from Aston at the Evesham show, but both him and Key will be out of action for a month.

“The doctors have pulled them out for 28 days, so we have to go with their advice,” said coach Colin Woodfield.

“It is gutting for them that they will miss out on the Central England title belts.”

However, there was good news for one of Ludlow’s other boxers.

Ben Bywater, nicknamed ‘the Beast’ came through against James Hughes at the Shrewsbury event by a majority points decision and has now won his last two fights.

“He has got a few things to work on, but is looking really good,” said Woodfield.

“He is nicknamed the beast mainly because he is a big lad, but some would say it’s a combination of his size and his fighting style.”

The show at the Buttermarket also saw the debut of Gabrielle Fanning. The 16-year-old lost against Grimsby Boxing Academy’s Alisha Lewis.

Elsewhere, Terry Dean Smith lost to Earl Shilton ABC'sTyler Rivers in Solihull last Friday, while Chadd Woodfield, who won his bout at the club’s dinner show last month, is due to compete at Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough ground tomorrow.