Wayne McCullough has lost his last seven world title fights

Wayne McCullough's comeback bout in New York on 16 March has been called off.

McCullough's wife and manager Cheryl told BBC Sport on Friday that the boxer had been informed that the Madison Square Garden bill will not take place.

Mrs McCullough said that the "economic downturn" had been advanced by promoters Irish Ropes as the reason why the bill had been called off.

Limerick fighter Andy Lee had been scheduled to top the New York card the evening before St Patrick's Day.

Middleweight Lee had been matched with Antwun Echols while McCullough was set to take on little-known Mexican super-bantamweight Alex Becerra.

McCullough had spoken of using the 16 March fight to help propel him back into the world title picture.

The 38-year-old has lost his last three fights and has been beaten in seven successive world title bouts.

We apologise for any inconveniences Irish Ropes president Eddie McLoughlin

Irish Ropes president Eddie McLoughlin said that they had been forced to take a "difficult decision".

"But ticket sales were way off compared to two years ago when the economy was much better here and back in Ireland," added McLaughlin.

"We apologise for any inconveniences, especially to all of the boxers who worked so hard to prepare for their fights."

Tickets will be reimbursed in full at points of purchase.

In July 1995 McCullough claimed his world championship by beating WBC bantamweight champion Yasuei Yakushiji.

He defended the belt on two occasions against Johnny Bredahl and Jose Luis Bueno.

McCullough relinquished the title because of weight difficulties and then lost on points to the veteran Daniel Zaragoza in a WBC super bantamweight bout in 1997.

The Belfast man went the distance against Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales but was outpointed on both occasions.

McCullough was then sidelined after a British Boxing Board of Control scan found a small cyct in the arachnoid space between the brain and the skull.

After a two-year battle, however, he was back in the ring again and earned a bout with WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison but suffered a punishing defeat.

McCullough later lost two world title bouts against Oscar Larios.

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