Steven Pearce replaces Joel Ryan for title fight
Stourbridge's Steven Pearce has landed a late notice shot at the vacant Midlands welterweight title after Walsall's Joel Ryan pulled out through illness.
Ryan was due to co-challenge with Derby's Luke Gallear at Burton Town Hall on Friday night but has a chest infection, which has left him "bed-ridden."
Pearce will take Ryan's place, as he was already preparing to box eight days later on the 70th anniversary show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
'Fierce Pearce,' 28, competed in the welterweight Prizefighter at the Civic last month and had been lined up to challenge the winner of Ryan-Gallear.
But Gallear has enjoyed a solid training camp ahead of this title shot, where Pearce has taken the fight at just four days notice with Ryan unable to compete.
Manager and promoter Errol Johnson said: "The chest infection has really knocked Joel off his feet. He had been training hard and was looking good.
"He did 10 rounds of sparring last Monday but started feeling ill the following morning.
"He went to the doctors and has been taking a course of antibiotics, but he's still bed-ridden and we just can't risk him.
"Steven was next in line for a shot at the Midlands title anyway, so it made sense to bring his opportunity forward.
"Gallear versus Pearce will be a war. Neither will take a backwards step, so the fans will be in for a real treat on fight night."
Tickets for the show in Burton are priced at £30 unreserved seating and £50 Ringside. They are available from the Town Hall Box Office on 0128 350 8547.
Doors open at 7pm, with boxing commencing at 8pm.
