ALEX Penarski's big title fight - due to take place tomorrow at Oldham's Queen Elizabeth Hall - has been called off.

The local authority in Oldham decided to cancel the event after advice from police and the British Boxing Board of Control.

Penarski, who has spent the last four months training and has already endured one postponement, is gutted. "I can't believe it and I'm embarrassed in a way," the boxer said.

"I'm in great shape because I've been training with Sandy Holt, the kick boxer, for the last four months. In fact I feel better now than I did 20 years ago.

"I only found out yesterday when we got a fax from the council. It just said the fight was off and boxing would not be allowed at that venue."

Penarski was supposed to be fighting Mad Dog Wayne Barker for the British Boxing Federation Cruiserweight title. The bout was scheduled to go ahead in September but had to be cancelled after Barker suffered a leg injury.

This time round both boxers were raring to go but Oldham Council had other ideas. In a statement to the BEN they explained their reasons for calling off the bout.

"The decision has been taken because of public order, security and health and safety concerns," it read. "We have the full support of the police over this decision."

The fight is now being rearranged for the third time and Penarski hopes it will go ahead before Christmas, hopefully at a venue in Middlebrook.

"I'm desperate to get the fight on and win the title," he added. "The promoters have already started trying to organise a new date and venue and I'm hoping we can get things sorted out as soon as possible."