By Elliot Foster

Stephen Simmons has been drafted in to fight for the British title.

The Scottish cruiserweight was handed the opportunity to face Craig Kennedy for the vacant strap after injury to Matty Askin.

Kennedy was meant to face Askin in a mandated clash on March 11 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, exclusively live on Channel 5.

But Blackpool’s Askin (21-3-1, 13 KOs), a former challenger to the belt, sustained an unspecified injury, leaving the teams involved with no option but to find a replacement opponent.

And it was Simmons (15-2, 7 KOs) that was called upon to face undefeated Kennedy (16-0, 8 KOs).

The news was revealed by Cyclone Promotions on Thursday.

Simmons, who was last in action last November when he lost a split decision to Noel Gevor in a challenge for the home fighter’s WBO International title in Germany, is 32 years old and a former Celtic and WBC International Silver titlist.

Kennedy last boxed in London in November and previously defended his IBF International crown against Joel Tambwe Djeko last May.

Morgan Jones will feature on the undercard alongside Wales’ only active female fighter Ashley Brace.

Elsewhere, Conrad Cummings faces Ronny Mittag in a rematch as the pair contest the latter’s IBF Inter-Continental middleweight title for the second time, Mason Jones and Jason Sillett have been confirmed as additions, while Nathan Thorley will also see action on a card which plays host to the return of Chris Jenkins and British, WBC International and IBF Inter-Continental flyweight king Andrew Selby.