Steve Saville cleared to defend title

Wolverhampton's Midlands lightweight champion Steve Saville has been cleared to defend his title against Amir Unsworth at the Doncaster Dome on December 3.

Saville is set to defend his crown for the first time, won in September 2008, after nine months out of the ring since losing to Karl Place in March.

'The Wednesfield Bomber' feels lucky to be fighting for the title at all - the British Boxing Board of Control wanted to strip him of the belt in September after he failed to renew his boxing licence.

There were also fears the 34-year-old was making himself physically unwell through excessive training for fights but, after meeting with the board last month, a compromise was reached.

One clause was that dietitian Justine Roden came in to work with him for a month as he started his preparations, with weekly progress reports to ensure a gradual loss of weight down to the 9st 9lb limit.

Saville believes her input has been a help rather than a hindrance and, as long as the board remain happy, training will now be geared towards fight night.

He said: "It's virtually done, I have got another week with the dietitian and then they will just be monitoring me after that.

"The board have helped me out, they have been looking after me so I can't fault them.

"The dietitian they have got for me has been absolutely brilliant, she's has been working with me week-to-week and the way I have been stripping down to the weight has really worked.

"I am happy that I am going to get the chance to prove myself as the Midlands champion, I am starting all my pad work on Monday and come fight night I will be more ready than ever.

"I am going to win - and I am going to knock him out."