McCullough is a former WBC bantamweight title-holder

Former world champion Wayne McCullough has withdrawn from Barry Hearn's latest Prizefighter tournament on 29 May after suffering a hand injury.

Belfast-born McCullough, 39, is a former WBC bantamweight title-holder but had not fought since June 2008 and not won a fight since 2004.

Ireland's Willie Casey, who has had five fights, replaces McCullough in the eight-man super-bantamweight event.

"I'm devastated but the hand injury is pretty bad," said McCullough.

"My doctor has advised me not to use the hand at all for training or fighting for the next six to eight weeks. We are all packed and ready to go and we really wanted to be there but this is boxing and these things happen."

Limerick's Casey, 28, said: "Wayne was an idol to me and I really looked up to him when I was starting out.

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"I don't feel under pressure as his replacement though, it's more excitement - although it would've been so great to fight him and I know his style would suit me.

"But I'm just delighted to be in Prizefighter and it's my chance to prove that I can make it to the top."

Casey comes into the fight after an impressive victory over previously undefeated Canadian super-bantamweight champion Tyson Cave, flooring him four times en-route to his fourth KO victory.

"They don't call me 'Big Bang' for nothing - I like a good scrap," said Casey. "I like to get in there and I like boxers who like to get involved as it makes the fights more exciting."

The signing of Las Vegas-based McCullough raised a few eyebrows as he has lost four of his last five fights and has fought only once since losing a second world-title challenge against Mexican Oscar Larios in July 2005.

In June 2008 McCullough, an Olympic silver medallist in 1992, retired on his stool after six rounds against American journeyman Juan Ruiz.

In addition, as long ago as 2002 he was denied a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control and he was suspended on medical grounds by the Nevada Athletic Commission after his second loss to Larios.

McCullough had hoped to challenge Ireland's Bernard Dunne for the WBA super-bantamweight crown last year, but the fight never materialised.

McCullough last fought in the United Kingdom in 2003 when he was outpointed by Scott Harrison for the WBO featherweight title, after which he spent three days in hospital.

In a professional career that has spanned 17 years, McCullough has also fought British great Naseem Hamed and Mexican legend Erik Morales.

The winner of the Prizefighter title will earn the £32,000 top prize and the series is seen as a way of revitalising flagging careers while promoting younger talent.

Audley Harrison was on the verge of retirement when he won a Prizefighter heavyweight event in October and has since won the European title.

Prizefighter super-bantamweights line-up:
Willie Casey, Limerick (five fights, five wins, no losses, no draws)
Craig Lyon, St Helens (10 fights, 10-0-0)
Mark Moran, Liverpool (13 fights, 11-1-1; former British title challenger)
Ricky Owen, Swansea (11 fights, 11-0-0)
Esham Pickering, Newark (43 fights, 34-9-0; former European, British and Commonwealth champion)
Gavin Reid, Redcar (12 fights, 6-5-1)
Chris Riley, Middlesbrough (six fights, 2-2-2)
Josh Wale, Barnsley (11 fights, 9-2-0)

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