King Davidson has been forced to postpone his world title defence due to injury – but must fight soon or face being stripped of his belt.

The Southampton-based boxer, left, won the WBO International light middleweight title over a year ago when he defeated Philip Kotey at Oceana.

However, a series of fights have ended up falling by the wayside and Davidson has yet to defend his title.

In fact, the only bout he has had in that time was a fifth round stoppage of Andrejs Loginovs.

Davidson was scheduled to make his long awaited first defence in Nigeria this weekend, but that too has been put back.

This time it is due to an elbow injury that requires a short period of rest to heal.

The fight has been rescheduled for the end of August with the WBO having been sent the medical reports.

The organisation are keen to see Davidson defend as soon as possible as there are a queue of other fighters who would covet the belt and the top ten ranking it brings with it.

Davidson’s trainer, Wayne Batten, said: “I was confident this fight was going to happen but when King went to the doctor he confirmed an injury to his elbow that needs a little bit of rest.

“Thankfully it’s nothing too serious and so King is confident the fight will be put back rather than postponed which is just as well as he needs to make a defence.

“The WBO have been sent the medical reports on King’s elbow but he needs to defend or he risks being stripped of the title.

“The good news is that the sanctioning fees have already been paid for this fight and so I am confident it will happen and King will get that first defence in.”

Davidson, whose Nigerian bout is being backed by oil tycoon Ifeanyi Ubah, undoubtedly has plenty of ability but his recent problem has been keeping active.

With just four fights in the last three years, which have lasted a combined total of 12 rounds, he is in danger of seeing his dreams to climb further up the boxing ladder drift away.Certainly if he wishes to make it to the very top then the 28-year-old needs to get regular fights quickly.

“My main concern for King is getting him active again. It always has been,” said Batten.

“I have said it to King again this week – he won’t be a top level world champion without getting more fights and so we need to hope that this one goes ahead as planned this time.”