BILLY HARDY'S European featherweight title defence against Italy's Stefano Zoff - scheduled for San Remo on April 25 - has been postponed.

The 31 year old champion from Sunderland has a shoulder injury, so has been granted a five week delay by the European Boxing Union.

Hardy is forced to travel for the mandatory defence following the successful purse bid of Italian promoter Elio Cotena, who held the same title himself in 1975/76.

It will be Hardy's second defence and his fourth European title fight in Italy. He lost two and drew one of the other three when fighting at bantamweight.