ROOKIE veteran Graham Fearn is still reeling from a professional blow he thought he had consigned to a long and illustrious amateur career.

The York ace was primed for a step-up in class in the professional ranks he only joined just over a year ago only to discover his high-profile bout against upcoming star Johnny Rocco Hussey was called off just six hours from the first bell.

The bout was to be Fearn’s first over six three-minute rounds and was on a Friday night card to be broadcast by Sky Television which would have brought the 34-year-old warrior nationwide exposure.

But the Nestlé Rowntree production worker was left “gutted” when, just as he was setting off from his New Earswick home, his manager Mick Marsden rang to say the fight had been KO’d because Hussey had gone down with illness.

The postponement hurled Fearn back to the final years of his amateur days when he was the victim of countless late call-offs. It was his inability to put his training to good use because so many bouts were being axed that he opted to turn professional at the ripe old age of 33.

Declared Fearn, left: “I know no-one can’t help getting sick, but I was absolutely gutted to hear the bout had been cancelled.

“The lad Hussey is a real prospect but when I was offered the fight I thought I would take it because it would represent a big hike in class and would have taken me to the next level. I wanted to see if an old man like myself could step up and hold his own against such a prospect.”

Added the light-welterweight, who crammed in five fights, winning four, at the ten stone division in less than his first year as a pro: “The fact that it could also have been televised was another bonus.

“So to have it called off just six hours before we were due to fight was a big blow and it reminded me so much of my last days in the amateur ranks.”

However, Fearn has been assured by Hussey’s camp that once the Manchester-based fighter – the son of former top British wrestler Johnny Rocco – has recovered and is back to 100 per cent condition then Fearn remains the first on his list.