Ross Minter's challenge for Takaloo's WBU welterweight belt in September is off.

The English welterweight champion has been ruled out of the clash on September 8 in London due to a cut picked up in last Saturday's warm-up fight against Duncan Cottier.

Crawley-born Minter, 27, son of former undisputed world middleweight champion Alan, said: "I am out of the fight in September but Takaloo will be fighting, although I don't think it has been confirmed who he will box.

"Hopefully, I have been told I will get the winner of that fight for the WBU title although it won't happen until possibly December or January.

"I should now have another warmup fight in October when the cut heals."

Minter sustained the injury requiring stitches in the thrid round of the 59-55 six-round win over Cottier at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium which stretched his record to 16 wins from 18 contests.

"It was nice to be back in the ring," said Minter. "My trainer Johnny Eames said it was the best he has seen me fight.

"I could probably have finished him at any time if I had gone in for the kill but I let him recover and then went back to work again.

"I didn't get caught by his punches at all but it was his head which opened up the cut obove my right eye. It will not heal in time for September as it will take six weeks minimum before I start sparring and that would not leave me enough time to prepare properly."

Ross has had injury setbacks before.

He spent 14 months out of the ring with a facial injury prior to impressively beating Chas Symonds for the Southern Area title last year.

That victory was followed by a successful defence against Sammy Smith before he won the English title by stopping Brett James in December 2005.

However, his injury hoodoo reared its head again this year when a damaged hand prevented him challenging for the vacant WBU international welterweight title.

Minter also had to pull out of a scheduled defence of his English crown due to a perforated left eardrum in May.

Ironically, Ross's father Alan was also susceptible to cuts which has led to people drawing comparisons.

Ross said: "People have said stuff about me being the same as my dad but my cuts man Jimmy Tibbs said that I am different.

"Most of my dad's cuts came from punches but most of mine have been from being caught by an opponent's head.

"Also, my cuts do stop bleeding quickly and when it was treated in the fight it did not start bleeding again. But you never know what's going to happen.

"The fact is, if you get a headbutt, you are going to get a cut." Minter is set to relinquish his English title rather than defend it in October as he does not want to run the risk of putting the WBU title shot in further jeopardy.