Lee Purdy v Devon Alexander: Purdy fails to make weight

England's Lee Purdy has failed to make the weight for Saturday's planned IBF welterweight world title fight against champion Devon Alexander, squandering his chance to win the belt.

Purdy, 25, weighed in on Friday at 147.8lb, over the 147lb limit.

The fight, at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, will still go ahead but Purdy is now not eligible to win the title.

US southpaw Alexander, who weighed in at 146.7lb, retains the belt in what was scheduled to be his first defence.

Purdy is a late stand-in for Sheffield-based Kell Brook, who pulled out because of a foot injury.

The Colchester boxer is fighting outside the UK for the first time in his career and insists the prospect of facing the 26-year-old American does not faze him.

He said on Tuesday: "It doesn't matter where the ring is in the world. It's the ring at the end of the day, and Devon that's going to be in front of me.

"I'm not going to let Devon out-box me. I'm going to put my heart and soul into this fight and come out victorious."

Purdy, who has won 20 of his 24 professional fights, last fought in March, when he beat Cosme Rivera in nine rounds to defend his IBF international title.

Alexander has a record of 24 wins from 25 bouts, with 13 victories coming inside the distance.

Saturday's fight was to have been Alexander's first defence of the title he took from US compatriot Randall Bailey last October. He has won three decisions since his only loss, to Tim Bradley in January 2011.

The card also includes IBF light-welterweight champion Lamont Peterson, of the United States, facing Argentina's Lucas Matthysse in a non-title bout.

The winner is expected to fight unbeaten WBA and WBC light-welterweight champion Danny Garcia later this year with the victor of that contest likely to face England's Amir Khan next.