Heavyweight boxer Tom Dallas has been forced into delaying his comeback for a second time.

And once again it was a blow from Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua which forced him into pulling out.

Dallas was due to be fighting Dorian Darch for the Southern Area heavyweight title on Saturday. Instead he’ll be nursing a cut above the eye.

“That’s the second time he’s split open my eyebrow in sparring,” said Dallas, who last fought in September 2013.

“The punch was almost identical and he’s caught me in the same place. I was out for five weeks last time and I had no choice but to pull out of the fight this time around.”

Dallas admitted he only had himself to blame.

“I’ll make sure I hold me hands next time,” he said.

“But I told him I would be back.”

Joshua - ranked no.4 in Britain - is preparing for his WBC International heavyweight title fight against Denis Bakhtov next weekend.

Dallas’ last fight was over a year ago. He lost to Ian Lewison in a Southern Area title fight after being stopped in the second round.

He’s determined to come back and reestablish himself in the heavyweight division. Dallas could now return on November 8.

He said: “People keep asking me if I’ve hung my gloves up but that’s definitely not the case.

“I will be back and it’s just a matter of timing. This is just a little set-back but my absence from the ring isn’t permanent.”