Norton and Male to fight for titles

Stourbridge's Rob Norton has been ordered to defend his British title against Terry Dunstan - as Cradley's Chris Male was handed a shot at the English crown.

Norton, who stands one defence away from a Lonsdale belt but hasn't defended his title since January of last year, has been ordered by the British Boxing Board of Control to face English champion Dunstan by the end of September.

However, the rights to stage the fight have been put out to purse bids, to be received by June 8, and if no offer is made it will be scrubbed.

Sky Sports are unlikely to be keen on screening two cruiserweights aged 39 - in Norton's case - and 42 respectively slugging it out on their 'Saturday Night Fight' show, leaving it as an expensive fight to stage without television coverage.

Male, meanwhile, has been named as a challenger to the vacant English featherweight belt by the board and could face Joe Murray for the title.

British Masters champion Male has been picked ahead of Midlands title holder Del Rogers to co-challenge with Murray, who boxes for Ricky Hatton's promotional company.

The Hattons are expected to make the winning bid to stage the fight and feature it on a Sky Sports televised bill, a boost for Male who turned down an English title shot at super feather to wait for his chance at featherweight.

But the 28-year-old punching postman goes up against another undefeated fighter and a huge prospect in Olympian Murray, the younger brother of former British and European lightweight champion John.