Jamie Ball calls out Brian Rose

Coseley's Jamie Ball has thrown down the next challenge to Brian Rose after watching the English light middleweight champion retain his crown.

Midlands title holder Ball was an interested spectator at the Medway Leisure Centre in Gillingham, Kent, last night as Rose stopped Martin Welsh in his first defence of the belt.

It was a real fact-finding mission for 'the Black Country Bully' as, at the top of the bill, the British light middleweight title hands also changed, with a new star born in Prince Arron.

Arron ripped the belt from Sam Webb after raining down punches that forced the fight to a halt in the 12th and last round, previously scoring a knockdown in the fifth session.

Rose is the next obvious challenger for the British title but Ball is hoping to get to the English champion first, after his next fight at Walsall Town Hall on June 4.

Ball will face international opposition for only the second time in his pro career and it's a tune-up for the English title, be it Rose – a classy winner in eight rounds last night – or whoever.

But the undefeated 26-year-old will not walk before he can run after watching the top domestic fighters in his division do their thing last night.

He said: "I have got this fight next and after that, hopefully, I can get an English title shot. That's my aim, to get a crack by October or November.

"I am not the sort of person that goes around shouting my mouth off, I went to see what levels they are at and what they are like, because watching them live and on TV are two different things.

"Brian Rose is tall, he has range and likes to keep things at a distance, he's a good boxer.

"But I am not scared of anybody at my level and, with the likes of Brian Rose, I think I am in with a good chance of beating them.

"I am happy to work my way up slowly so I know, when I get up there, I am ready and not just going in there to make up the numbers.

"It's my aim to be a British champion, but I don't just want to be chucked in too early in my career.

"I will work my way up there until I know, when I do get in there, I have got all of the tools to win the title."

For tickets to Ball's next fight at Walsall Town Hall, call promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.