British title fight coming to the Civic

Wolverhampton Civic Hall will stage it's first British title fight in nearly four years next month when Enzo Maccarinelli challenges Shane McPhilbin.

The former WBO world and European champion will headline at the Civic in the first defence of McPhilbin's cruiserweight crown on March 23.

The bill has been revamped and will now be co-promoted by Frank Warren and broadcast on his subscription-only TV channel, BoxNation.

The original card, put together by local promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson, will be largely unaffected and that main event will now serve as chief support bout.

Dudley's Jason Welborn will put up his Midlands welterweight title against Coventry's James Flinn, but Tipton's Lee Glover has been pulled out.

Glover will now box Ian Bailey for a Masters belt, either the International or British crown at super bantam, at a later date.

Two six-rounders remain on the bill as former English lightweight champion Martin Gethin and Thomas Costello face international opposition.

Gethin made his comeback after 19 months out with a back injury in November and is working towards Anthony Crolla's British title.

Birmingham's Costello, the undefeated light middleweight, returns to the West Midlands after a Knockout of the Year contender against Latvian Ivars Sedlins last June.

Joining them are dynamic Dudley featherweights Dean Anderson and Zak the Ripper – real name Saquib Amir – with Anderson returning after a 15-month break from boxing.

Hard-hitting Stafford middleweight Grant Cunningham, Stourbridge's Steven Pearce and Brierley Hill's Karl Spencer, the latter two from Shaun Cooper's gym in Dudley, make up the rest of the card.

For tickets, call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.