Jamie Ball's last stop on the title trail

Coseley light middleweight Jamie Ball will be looking to lay down some championship credentials when he steps through the ropes at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

'The Black Country Bully' will take on Waddington's Ryan Clark at the Civic a week tomorrow, in what could be the last stop before a title shot at the end of November.

Clark was originally set to face Dudley's Jason Welborn but has instead been upgraded to a six-rounder, when it became clear preferred opponent Geraint Harvey would not be taking the fight.

With a win Ball could be lined up for a shot at either a Masters belt or, in the best case scenario, a crack at the Midlands crown depending on whether champion Martin Concepcion vacates after his British title fight against Sam Webb next month.

It's where Ball feels he should be after 10 straight wins since turning pro in 2008, but the 26-year-old admits he is putting it all on the line to get another win under his belt before the big one.

He said: "It's a fight I have got to win and I need to look good doing it. There can be no slip ups, I am confident in my own ability but now I have to prove it to everybody else.

"My ambition is to be some form of champion by the end of the year, probably a Masters belt but if everything falls into place there could even be a Midlands title shot for me.

"I train hard, I live right and it's up to me now to get in there and do it."

Clark may have 15 defeats on his record but the 21-year-old is a tough customer and is happy to swap punches at will with his opponent.

At just under 6ft 3in he also has the range but is equally comfortable up close, although Ball insists he will stamp his own authority on the fight.

He said: "These are all learning curves, so if I can take on a different style each time it's another tool in the box for me.

"Ryan is a good couple of inches taller than me so I will need to close the gap, keep that head movement, slip under his shots and counter over the top.

"I will be looking to work the body and see how he handles that, he's seasoned so I presume he can take the straight blows to the head.

"I won't be getting too close and going in reckless, that's not my style because I am a lot more smoother than that."

For tickets, call the call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.

The show will also be broadcast online live on pay-per view at a cost of just £2.99, through Hatton TV at www.hattonboxing.tv.