Hove boxer Paul Halpin is today fighting to save his professional career.

Halpin, the Southern Area featherweight champion, was set to meet Gavin Rees in Cardiff last month for the vacant WBO InterContinental featherweight title but had to withdraw after he failed a medical due to a low blood Platelet count, the particles crucial to blood clotting.

At the time Halpin believed a virus had caused his illness, but now the British Boxing Board of Control have suspended his licence until he can prove he is medically fit to fight.

Halpin said: "This has thrown my whole world into disarray.

"I have had 16 years of trying to get somewhere in this sport and this news has thrown my whole world upside down.

"The fight against Rees was my big chance but it justs seems to be one thing after another and never-ending."

Robert Smith, Southern Area Secretary of the BBBC, said: "Paul has a medical query which needs to be further investigated and until the results of those investigations are known his licence will be suspended.

"If we got all the results tomorrow, and they were accepted by the Board's medical panel, then this matter could be sorted out."

Halpin is vowing to win back his licence and will see a Harley Street specialist next week with the test results sent to the medical panel.

The unbeaten 25-year-old is so confident he will have his licence back soon that he will go to France in a fortnight with reigning British champion Danny Williams to prepare for a possible crack at the WBO InterContinental title in July.

CRAWLEY'S Michael Alldis will make a third defence of his British super-bantamweight crown against Patrick Mullings at Wembley Conference Centre on Saturday, July 14.

The bout was due to take place last month but was cancelled when Alldis, 33 next week, pulled out with an injury problem.

It will be a re-run of the showdown that gave Alldis the British title in November 1999.