Former junior featherweight world titlist Scott Quigg has suffered a torn tendon in his left arm, forcing him to withdraw from his upcoming junior lightweight bout with Jayson Velez.

Quigg was due to face Velez in a 10-round fight on the April 26 DAZN card headlined by the rematch between junior bantamweight world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and No. 1 contender Juan Francisco Estrada at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

“Absolutely gutted to inform everyone I will not be fighting,” Quigg announced. “Training had been going fantastic and everything was well on schedule but in my final week of heavy preparation before tapering down I suffered an injury during sparring on (April 15), a total freak accident where I hit my sparring partner with a left hook and my elbow jarred and the tendon ripped clean off my bicep and elbow. I went straight to see a specialist and had scans which confirmed the damage of what I’d felt and will need surgery to reattach my tendon.”

Quigg (35-2-2, 26 KOs), 30, of England, who was training with Freddie Roach at his gym in Hollywood, California, said the surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. Against Velez (28-5-1, 20 KOs), 31, of Puerto Rico, Quigg was seeking his second win in a row in the junior lightweight division, after he had failed to make weight and lost a decision to featherweight world titlist Oscar Valdez in a hellacious battle 13 months ago.

“Gutted isn’t the word. I’m absolutely devastated after all the work and training me and my team have put in this camp and also with being so close to the fight,” Quigg said. “Thank you for all messages of support and once the operation is done I will start the rehabilitation process and I will make a full recovery and continue my career.”