Canadian boxer Tariq Salih has retired from the 2018 Wray & Nephew Contender.

According to a release from the fight promoters, Salih —who defeated Fabian Tucker in the opening round of the Team Canada vs Team Jamaica series, is said to have withdrawn from the competition for “personal reasons”, and his place will be taken by Larone Whyte.

Interestingly, Salih was a replacement for Jeff Tabrizi for the opening round contest.

His unanimous decision over Tucker had paved the way for a quarter-final clash against Richard “Frog” Holmes at the Chinese Benevolent Association next Wednesday.

Holmes will now fight Whyte, who competed in last year’s Wray & Nephew Contender. He has a 3-2-0 record, including a win over Devon “Concrete” Moncriffe.

The latter scored an impressive fourth-round knockout victory over Waseem El Sinawi on Wednesday to draw Jamaica level at 1-1 in the series.

Moncriffe was dominant from bell one, peppering El Sinawi with shots to the head and body as he clinically wore down the 28-year-old Canadian, before a second knock-down with a heavy punch forced the referee to end the fight.

“I organised myself better for this fight because I see where he knocked out “Sub Zero” (Ramel Lewis), and I said he can knock me out too. I want to deliver the first punch. After I delivered it I realised that I had him. Everything worked out okay,” Moncriffe said after Wednesday’s bout.

The 41-year-old Jamaican, who won the Wray & Nephew Contender in 2013, says he is driven by his age.

“My age motivates me 100 per cent because all of them are younger than me. I’m just taking my age to them. They say I’m a grandfather … but if they’re 20, I’m 20 too,” he reasoned.

“I sacrifice everything to make the weight and I can take a punch, that’s the greatest thing. If you can’t take a punch you can’t go into certain fight,” Moncriffe continued. “Right now, I’m telling you the honest truth. I’m full of confidence. I don’t know how they’re going to stop me.”

Asked if he saw the knockout coming, El Sinawi said: “No, I didn’t.”

Responding to a follow-up question about the damage he suffered, the Canadian said: “Yes, I was hurt, especially the second time. The second time I thought I could get up but I couldn’t; I was hurt.

“I wanted to jab and outbox him … unfortunately, I couldn’t.”

In reference to the age disparity, El Sinawi said: “I expected him to be a little more manageable, but he’s actually in decent shape.”