Elwell guns for the British title

The southpaw will meet Sheffield's Kell Brook at the famous York Hall in Bethnal Green on January 30, aiming to bring the belt back to the Black Country for the first time since Young Mutley lost the title in June 2006.

Mutley is in a pack of Black Country boxers looking for their shot at the champion, leaving Elwell in a unique position to seize the title.

He will have his work cut out with Brook, who defends with an unblemished record after 18 pro fights, 11 of those inside the distance.

Elwell has been in such a good position before and failed - he was stopped after two rounds for the WBA Inter Continental title against Vyacheslav Senchenko last March.

But he feels this time will be different.

He said: "I have had six weeks to train for it, so I have no excuses now. I feel that good going into the fight, with my fitness and conditioning, that I just want to get the fight started and prove that I have what it takes to win.

"The past couple of fights, I have not really performed. I have been playing at it to be honest. I didn't really prepare like I should have and that was to my cost. But everything seems to be going as it should be and I feel great.

"I know what is at stake in this fight and I want to take this chance with both hands."

Elwell was handed his chance at the British crown after the British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction a title fight between Brook and Telford's Mark Lloyd.

The two are stable mates at the 'First Team Promotions' camp, but the former is ranked higher with a record 12 wins from 15 fights.

So Lloyd will have to wait in his bid to take the belt to Shropshire, while the challenger gets his big chance.

Elwell added: "They put Mark's name forward for the fight but the Boxing Board knocked it back, because he was not ranked high enough. My hat was thrown into the ring as it was after that, so now I have my chance.

"This is a huge fight for me and I want to being the British title back to Wolverhampton."