Stevenson out of Oct. 12 title defense due to hand injury

WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has been forced out of his Oct. 12 fight against Joe Cordina in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after suffering a hand injury and undergoing surgery, Matchroom Boxing announced Wednesday.

Stevenson-Cordina was scheduled to serve as the co-main event to the undisputed light heavyweight title bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Stevenson is expected to be able to return to the ring early next year.

The 27-year-old was set to make the second defense of the WBC lightweight title. He's coming off a unanimous decision win over Artem Harutyunyan in July in his home state of New Jersey. Stevenson captured the belt - and became a champion in a third division - by beating Edwin De Los Santos last November.

Cordina suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Cacace in his last outing in May. The 32-year-old from Cardiff, Wales, is a former IBF junior lightweight champion.