Hopes are high that boxing champion Anthony Joshua's cancelled Whitehaven date will be rescheduled before the end of the year.

Many boxing fans were left disappointed when an appearance in Whitehaven Civic Hall due to take place last night was cancelled. A second appearance tonight will still go ahead and has sold out.

However, Anne Kelly, from the Civic's Solway Hall, said she will speak the event's promoter Tony Dunn and Joshua's management while they are in town to discuss rescheduling, with priority given to those who had already bought tickets for the Wednesday show.

Anne said: "Although we have been booked as the venue for the event, we had no part in the decision to cancel the Wednesday show.

"However, we are disappointed that it was cancelled and are upset for those who had tickets.

"I will be speaking to the organisers to reschedule the date - hopefully before the end of the year - and those who had tickets for the Wednesday will get first refusal.

"In the meantime, we would ask people to contact the person who they bought tickets from for a refund."

The decision to cancel the event was taken by its promoter, Tony Dunn, who was concerned at the initially slow ticket sales. Peter Boyle, who was promoting the event locally, added that Joshua's management had no part in the decision to cancel.

Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist, won his maiden world belt in just his 16th professional bout, quicker than greats like Mohammad Ali, Mike Tyson or Joe Frazier managed.

The new king of the ring is now on a collision course with the division’s best, as fellow Brits David Haye and WBO and IBO champ Tyson Fury already calling him out.