TAKALOO will be confined to the role of reluctant spectator at the ExCel Arena in London’s Docklands on Saturday after his third scheduled opponent pulled out due to injury.

The 30-year-old Margate fighter will be at ringside cheering on stable-mate Danny Williams against Audley Harrison, but does not expect to fight again until February or March next year.

Takaloo said: "I can’t wait for 2006 to arrive, because I will be a man on a mission, aiming to give it everything.

"I have trained hard since late July, and felt in great shape physically, but not mentally because my opponent has changed so many times.

"I was not going there to make the numbers up. I was there to win, more determined than ever to do well and further my career."

Takaloo was originally due to fight holder Eamonn Magee for the the WBU welterweight title, only for the Irishman to withdraw, then young Welshman Taz Jones was lined up as a replacement only to quit days later.

A Russian southpaw was next lined up, but he too pulled out leaving the Thanet man disappointed to miss out on one of the capital’s biggest boxing nights of the year, which apart from Williams and Harrison, also includes Athens Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan.