Steve Saville's link to Wednesfield FC

Wolverhampton lightweight Steve Saville has teamed up with Wednesfield Football Club to get himself in shape for the first defence of his Midlands title.

'The Wednesfield Bomber' will put the area crown - after two years as champion - up-for-grabs for the first time against Amir Unsworth at the Doncaster Dome next Friday.

And Saville has enlisted the help of his local football club as an extra fitness tool ahead of fight night, offering conditioning work in return for the players of the West Midlands League outfit.

The 34-year-old used to play for the Cottagers, as did younger brother Craig, while older sibling Dave runs the club-house at the Cottage Ground, where a coach will take the team and Saville's supporters to the Dome next Friday afternoon.

Saville sees the players once a week and has established a daily routine of fitness training around the town, which starts at the crack of dawn at the 24-hour Pure Gym on Bentley Bridge.

Then it's a quick pop over the road to the Chiquitos on site for a steak wrap, as red meat figures heavily in his diet plans for fights.

It seems to be paying dividends for the Midlands champion, who actually reckons football is a more dangerous sport!

He said: "I take the lads on a run with me as well, they have some fast runners so it's a good test for me. The team is doing well and, fitness wise, they are alright.

"I take all of them on the pads, I do a weights circuit individually with them and everything they do, I do. I know my level of fitness is sky high then.

"Football work is very good for cardio and boxing is more hands on, so to speak!

"Boxing is obviously more physical but, saying that, I think I have had more injuries through football.

"I have broken my leg, cheekbone, nose, eye socket - you name it."

Saville versus Unsworth comes under the section 'Last Chance Saloon' for the Black Country boxer, who has suffered four straight defeats since winning the title after seven-round knockout of Baz Carey in November 2008.

That said, three of those four opponents have been champions and Birmingham's Frankie Gavin conquered the world as an amateur.

It's been hard going for Saville but he feels the tests against the better opponents actually gives him the edge over the challenger.

He said: "This fight will decide what my future brings, but if I win I will be looking for bigger things.

"I am very confident but boxing is a funny game and you never know what's around the corner. But, if I give 100 per cent, I know I can do it.

"This lad has never boxed at my level and I reckon I will be too strong for him."