Sam Sexton rejected the chance of a high-profile British heavyweight title fight against Danny Williams earlier this month, his trainer has revealed.
The Norwich boxer is instead preparing to take on Colin Kenna in a Southern Area title bout on Friday.
Sexton saw his stock rise dramatically after he won three fights in one night to take the Prizefighter crown.
Trainer Graham Everett told BBC Radio Norfolk: "It probably took me about three minutes to decide no."
"If the situation was that Sam Sexton was never going to win a British title we would have jumped at it "
The 24-year-old shot into the British heavyweight top 10 after beating Pele Reid, Luke Simpkin and Chris Burton on one bill in Newcastle in September to win the £25,000 Prizefighter title.
That success led to Williams putting his British title on the line but Everett is convinced the timing was wrong.
"If the situation was that Sam Sexton was never going to win a British title we would have jumped at it.
"The game plan is we are heading towards a British title and this 10-rounder against Colin Kenna is the next step along," Everett added.
Williams fought Albert Sosnowski instead earlier this month and lost when the referee stopped the contest in the eighth round.
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