Darren McDermott on Welborn v Gavin

Dudley's McDermott has trained with both Rowley Regis' Welborn, the challenger, and Gavin, the champion from Birmingham, from the gym at his home in Woodsetton.

The two welterweights will battle for the belt at Walsall Town Hall on Friday January 18 and 'Macca' knows what each fighter must do to give themselves the edge.

'The Black Country Bodysnatcher' himself won Midlands and English middleweight titles and competed for the British and Commonwealth crowns during his career.

The 34-year-old knows the challenger inside out as Welborn was his chief sparring partner for fights against Wayne Elcock, Steven Bendall and Darren Barker.

Now McDermott will be ringside as Welborn looks to snatch a British title that eluded his former mentor and has spelled out what it will take to pull it off.

McDermott said: "I have had the pair of them in my gym and they are both good lads who have got something about them that could win the fight.

"Jason has got to be fit, he needs to have trained like he's never trained before and he's got to stay on him for 12 rounds, he can't rest.

"If he gives Frankie a second, he will take an hour so, when he feels tired, he's got to dig that little bit deeper but he is tough enough.

"He sparred with me, a middleweight, for all of those years and never had a day off after a heavy session, he just kept coming back.

"Jason will give him a fight, whatever you hit him with he just grits his teeth and comes back and he's got the power to hurt Frankie.

"When he trained with me, he was boxing at light welter and he could bang then, he probably hits harder now with the extra weight.

"He's so heavy handed but it's catching Frankie that's the problem."

Gavin stepped through the ropes into McDermott's training ring in 2010, the same year that 'Macca' was forced to retire after brain surgery.

Welborn has only ever been stopped once and Gavin is not regarded as a massive puncher, despite 10 of his 14 wins coming inside the distance.

'Funtime' Frankie opts for punches in bunches while moving in and out of trouble on the back-foot, something McDermott knows well.

He said: "I don't think he can hurt Jason but he could outbox him, he could be too clever, it's not how hard he hits but how many punches he lands.

"He's so tough to land one back on, as well, and that becomes frustrating for the other fighter as you waste a lot of energy missing the target.

"Then you run the risk of your head going and ending up taking silly shots. But if you even try and tuck up, Frankie will play the piano on you."

The last time a British champion from Birmingham came to the Black Country and put his belt up-for-grabs was against McDermott in 2008.

Wayne Elcock retained his crown with a second round stoppage on a cut in just the second round and McDermott never got another shot.

A second chance should have come against Paul Smith at super middleweight in 2010 but a sparring injury, which required surgery, ended his career.

He said: "I thought I was going to be a British champion and, the next thing I know, I have got a cut eye and the fight is over - anything can happen.

"It was the Black Country versus Birmingham then and somebody has got to put it right."

The show is a 1,800 sell out but will be live and exclusive on BoxNation on Sky Channel 437 and Virgin Channel 546. Join at www.boxnation.com.

Walsall Town Hall's Box Office have started a waiting list, should more tickets become available. For more information, call 0845 111 2900.