It looks like Shakan Pitters and Brad Rea will fight for the vacant European light heavyweight title on a GBM Sports show in Galway, Ireland at the end of June. An official date and venue will be announced shortly.

Pitters (20-2, 7 KOs) was initially scheduled to challenge former champion, Daniel Blenda Dos Santos, for his title back in February but the Frenchman was forced to withdraw just days before the bout after an issue with his pre-fight brain scan.

Dos Santos was cleared to box on and the the fight was rescheduled for April 4th at London’s York Hall. This time, 35 year-old Pitters was hospitalised with chest issues during fight week and Rea (20-1, 10 KOs) leapt at the late notice opportunity to step in and face Dos Santos.

The pair weighed in and were just hours away from getting in the ring when news broke that Dos Santos had fallen and and wouldn’t be able to defend his title.

It was Rea’s second major disappointment within two months. In February, the 27 year-old Mancunian had been due to box Constantino Nanga on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol until the Swede’s late withdrawal with a shoulder injury denied him a high profile showcase.

After considering the situation and taking into account that Dos Santos had withdrawn from two defences this year, the EBU decided to strip Dos Santos of his title and nominate Pitters and Rea to box for the vacant belt.

“Shakan's all clear,” GBM promoter, Izzy Asif, told The Ring when asked about Pitters’ condition.

“Shakan’s going to fight Brad Rea. That’s been done. More than likely, he's going to be on the Galway card.

“The simple fact is, we haven't got a UK date and I don't want to wait any longer because he's had two cancellations. Bradley also got cancelled in Saudi and got cancelled in London.

“It's just not fair on the boys. I'm just not having them waiting through summer not earning and not fighting so let them have it.”

The full card is yet to be announced but it is rumoured that it will also feature a welterweight battle between Galway’s undefeated Kieran Molloy, 11-0 (6 KOs) and former British lightweight champion, Lewis Ritson, 23-5 (13 KOs).