David Price has been forced to pull out of this weekend's heavyweight bout with Evgeny Orlov due to a virus.
The 30-year-old will now make his return to the ring in 2014 after back-to-back defeats to Tony Thompson - the last of which coming in July before being taken under the wing of trainer Adam Booth.
"It is unfortunate but these things happen and one has to act responsibly," Sky Sports News quotes his new promoter Kalle Sauerland as saying.
"This is a minor set back and has no effect on our plans for Pricey. He will be back in the ring at the beginning of the New Year."
Price added: "Obviously I am disappointed. I was looking forward to my first fight back but I wouldn't be doing myself or my fans justice by taking the fight when I am anything less than 100%."
The Liverpool fighter recently relinquished his British and Commonwealth world titles in order to build for a world title shot.
