Richie Wyatt's hoping for rematch

Stourbridge light welterweight Richie Wyatt will be imagining Kevin Hooper is across the ring when he takes on wily veteran Karl Taylor later this month.

Wyatt meets the mega-experienced 44-year-old, who has had 161 fights, at Birmingham's Holiday Inn on July 22, giving up hometown advantage to his opponent in a six-rounder.

For the 29-year-old it's the chance to get back on track after losing his two-fight unbeaten record to then-debutant Hooper last time out, nudged out of a tight 37-39 call last October.

It would have been closer had Wyatt not been deducted a point for holding, who has since had to stand back and watch as his Grimsby-based nemesis has put his five straight wins together.

But the Richie Woodhall-trained fighter, who will have the former WBC World champion in his corner on fight night, has not given up hope of getting his own back.

He said: "I definitely want the rematch. I would love to get him again because it was a close fight last time and, if the referee hadn't took a point off me, there would have been nothing in it at all."

But first things first for the amateur star, who was an ABA schoolboy champion and fought for England four times.

Taylor rarely wins but has been in there with some of the best, although at 5ft 5in gives up a good half a foot to his opponent.

And Wyatt feels that could play into his hands.

He said: "I am a lot taller than him, so hopefully I can keep him at range, working everything off the jab like me and Richie have talked about."

Wyatt's fight forms part of a three-bout dinner show, which includes entertainment from a comedian, a table seat and a three-course meal.

Tickets cost £55 each, with a table of 10 priced at £500, and can be purchased from promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.