Glen Johnson

SHEFFIELD (CMC):

Jamaican light heavy-weight boxer Glen Johnson's bid for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title is being delayed. Instead of facing Johnson, the IBF's number one contender, the champion Clinton Woods has signed to face former world champion Julio Gonzalez next month.

The bout is set for September 29 at the Hallam FM Arena in Sheffield, England. It will be the second meeting between the two, with Woods having won a unanimous decision against Gonzalez at the same arena in September 2005.

They were slated to meet earlier this year - June 23 -but Woods was forced to pull out with an injury and Mexico's Gonzalez says he is ready to grab the opportunity.

"It was a tremendous blow when he pulled out so close to the fight that it didn't matter to me whether it was right or wrong, just that he did it. It has given me even more motivation to go out and win this fight," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez, who previously held the World Boxing Organisation belt, has a ring record of 41 wins (25 knockouts) against three losses. Woods has 40 wins (24 knockouts) against three defeats and one draw.

In May this year, the 'Road Warrior' Johnson had stopped veteran Montell Griffin in the 11th round of their IBF title eliminator in Florida to guarantee himself a shot at Woods' crown.