Chris LakeyNorwich heavyweight Sam Sexton has been forced to pull out of his dream fight to be at the bedside of his sick mother. Sexton was due to fight Danny Williams for the British heavyweight title on May 15, but his mother, Mandy, is seriously ill and facing life-threatening surgery.Chris Lakey

Norwich heavyweight Sam Sexton has been forced to pull out of his dream fight to be at the bedside of his sick mother.

Sexton was due to fight Danny Williams for the British heavyweight title on May 15, but his mother, Mandy, is seriously ill and facing life-threatening surgery.

The 25-year-old has been at his mother's side for the past two weeks and has now reluctantly withdrawn from a fight that was to be the biggest of his career to date.

Sexton's trainer, Graham Everett, said the decision was made with 'deep regret'.

'Sam's mother was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital with an aneurysm to her head and in critical condition,' said Everett.

'Having undergone extensive tests she is now awaiting the possibility of a rare life saving operation.

'Sam has not left his mother's bedside throughout her ordeal, has been unable to continue his training for the past two weeks and it seems potentially for the foreseeable future until his mother has hopefully had her operation and is out of danger.

'Being in the most important period of his training and after extensive discussion we decided that Sam was not in a fit state of mind for any fight, let alone a championship fight.

'Sam deeply regrets having to pull out of the fight as he was so looking forward to hopefully adding his dream of being British heavyweight champion to his Commonwealth title.

'Sam would greatly appreciate some privacy along with his family through this worrying time.'

Sexton was to have met Williams in February at the Wembley Arena, but he cut his hand in a domestic accident and had to pull out - with Williams following suit.

Derek Chisora was drafted in on the first occasion and will now take on Williams on the undercard of Kevin Mitchell's world title fight against Michael Katsidis at West Ham's football ground - a card which also includes Cromer's boxing brothers, Michael, Liam and Ryan Walsh.

Chisora is the only fighter to have beaten Sexton, but on Sunday was expressing his sympathy to his rival.

'First of all my thoughts are with Sam and his family at this time and I hope his mother makes a full recovery,' he said.

'The opportunity to fight Williams again was presented to me and took the fight straight away,"

"I was left frustrated by the messing about in the last fight when I was supposed to fight him and took my anger out on Baker, but I'm happy that Williams has seen sense and will fight me at West Ham,"

"I'm really psyched up for the fight already and this is the type of fight I need to bring out the best in me that people haven't seen yet,"

'It's going to be a huge night at West Ham and I'm looking forward to being crowned British champion.'