Last night we had to call it off but I will be standing by Scott Barry Hughes, Scott Harrison's manager

The 29-year-old Scot was scheduled to defend his belt against Nicky Cook at the ExCel Arena in London on Saturday.

But the Glasgow-born fighter was unable to make the weight limit and made a late withdrawal from the bout.

"Scott definitely wants to fight on and he isn't the first world champion to lose out on the scales," said Hughes.

Harrison was released from a Spanish prison last month, and has had problems with alcohol and depression.

Despite the setback, Hughes insists a plan for the boxer's future is already mapped out.

"Scott, Peter Harrison and I spoke at length last night, as you would expect, he added.

"I am confident and equally determined to make sure this is not the end for Scott and he thinks the same way."

Harrison vacated his crown on medical advice from Dr Niall MacFarlane of Glasgow University.

We are unhappy and we are seeking legal advice and there's going to be a lot of fall-out over this Frank Warren, Scott Harrison's promoter

And Hughes told the Evening Times: "Scott has always found it hard to make the nine-stone weight limit and he has paid for his spell in prison in Spain.

"That cost us nearly six weeks of training camp and meant Scott's weight loss would have to be concentrated inside a three-week period.

"Ultimately, as Scott's manager, I have to put the safety of my fighter first.

"Unfortunately, last night we had to call it off but I will be standing by Scott.

"I said before I would not have deserted him if he had still been in prison over in Spain.

"So just because he has failed to make a weight limit does not mean I am going to desert him in his hour of need."

However, there could be further problems for Harrison as Frank Warren, who was promoting the fight with Cook, said he was considering legal action.