Rob Norton and Herbie Hide agreed

Stourbridge's British cruiserweight champion Rob Norton will defend his title for the third and probably final time in November against Herbie Hide.

The bout was put out to purse bids last month and Hatton Promotions, who still have Norton under contract for three fights, submitted what was the winning offer this week to stage the fight.

And it could take place at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, where the Hattons have been interested in promoting a show for the past year.

Norton's second defence of the British title, a rematch with David Dolan in January, was supposed to have been held at the Civic before they opted to move the bill to Altrincham's Leisure Centre.

The champion must defend the title successfully one more time to claim a Lonsdale belt as his own and Hide is the challenger chosen by the British Boxing Board of Control, after the 'Dancing Destroyer' asked for the chance to fight for the British title.

That came as a surprise, with Hide a former World champion and highly ranked by the WBC for a shot at their coveted crown.

But the former WBO title holder, 39, will now face Norton, 38, with both men ageing veterans.

Walsall's English lightweight champion Martin Gethin could also climb into British title contention with an eliminator - but is unlikely to fight before the New Year.

Gethin needs an operation on a long-standing back problem and, with no immediate date for surgery, is unable to meet Gary McArthur as set down by the board.

But a deal has been struck by the two camps to postpone, rather than cancel, the fight.

The board are unlikely to object, especially as Gethin versus McArthur was one of two eliminators called for John Murray's British title, with John Watson - who beat Gethin by a point last year - also set to take on Ryan Brawley.

There's a high likelihood that a final eliminator will then be called to determine who faces the champion and, even if one of the fighters were to be put straight in for the title, the board have ordered Murray to face Gavin Rees first.

In any case, none of them are likely to meet Murray before late November at the earliest, as he is defending his European title for the first time against Andriy Kudriavtsev on September 25.

There's always the option to vacate the British crown, but the champion still needs two more defences to claim a Lonsdale belt as his own.

For Gethin it's just good to be a name back in the frame, as when two eliminators were called in the spring Gary Buckland was chosen ahead of him, but lost to Murray in May.

The 26-year-old has just become a father to son Kane last month and, with his problematic back, is happy to wait for his shot.

He said: "I was hoping to fight as soon as possible, but there's no point in taking the risk. I can't really train until I have had this done, I am still ticking over with my running but even then I feel pain in my back.

"It's good that I am back in the minds of the people that decide who fight for the British title, it's all going on with the belt but it's not all going to happen at once."

Stourbridge's Kevin McCauley has also been given a shot at an area title, after agreeing to take on Midlands welterweight champion Dave Ryan at the Heritage Hotel in Derby on October 2.

McCauley was given his chance after scheduled opponent James Flinn pulled out with a hand injury.

The challenger will warm up for the fight with a four-rounder against Nick Quigley at Manchester's Velodrome next Friday night.

The champion won the title last year by stopping another fighter from Stourbridge, Scott Evans, in two rounds.