Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has been forced to postpone his title bout against Paul Williams due to a knuckle injury.

The pair had been due to meet on October 3 but the champion has struggled to shake an infection in his left hand and has had to pull out of the proposed date.

A New York news conference to promote the fight was due today but has now been cancelled too.

Pavlik's co-manager Cameron Dunkin told ESPN.com: "His knuckle is infected. It's all infected. It's worse than it was.

"He has to go on an IV drip starting in the morning and do it for the next couple of weeks to get it cleaned out. It needs medical attention. He can't put a glove on."

Possible dates for a rescheduled bout are thought to include November 1 and December 5.