The unbeaten Neil Fannan-trained star was to challenge Paul Holborn for the vacant Northern Area lightweight championship at Sunderland's stadium this Friday night.

It had looked a mouthwatering match. McElvaney, a multi-decorated former junior protege, against Holborn, who has been beaten only once.

McElvaney, from Stokesley, had won a string of titles while boxing for South Bank ABC as a teenager – including the Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia – before turning pro with Fannan, for whom he reeled off four straight victories.

But Fannan today confirmed the 21-year-old had quit boxing.

"James had been training hard," said Fannan. "He said he wanted three or four days out of the gym because he was getting married, but given he'd put a lot of graft in, I didn't see the problem.

"He did come back in after he got married but after a few days he contacted me to say 'that's it, I'm finishing'.

"It's a shame because the lad had talent, but I only want hungry, committed fighters in my gym and if that's how James feels then so be it."

Promoter Tommy Conroy, who had been looking forward to pitting his wits against Fannan for a third time in a Northern Area title fight, has secured a new opponent for Holborn.

The 24-year-old fighter, known as 'The Mackem' will now tackle Sheffield's Dwayne Hill for the International Masters lightweight belt.

But Conroy will still have the opportunity to put one over Fannan after matching Shaun Farmer with Ryan Ashworth at the Stadium of Light.

Farmer, an adopted Poolie, fights out of Conroy's Wearside stable, while Ashworth, from Scarborough, has recently joined Fannan's Hartlepool camp.

The lightweights will meet over six rounds.

"It will be a good fight," said Fannan. "Ryan's had two bouts for me now.

"First time out he was not so good, but he improved when he fought on the Mayfair show last month."

The contest is only a small consolation for Fannan after McElvaney's exit.

It is the second time McElvaney has quit the fight game, having stopped in his late teens after admitting putting partying before punching.