Ryan Aston gets Harry Matthews at the Civic

With promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson into double figures trying to find a match, Harry Matthews has accepted the challenge for tomorrow's fight night.

Aston, 22, will now have to step up to super middleweight for the 10-round contest with what could be his first belt, the British Masters title, on the line.

Matthews, 25, could prove to be his toughest opponent to date. The never-stopped 'Pocklington Rocket' is a former Central Area champion and English title challenger.

Rowson said: "We must be into double figures with the opponents we have approached for Ryan. I wanted someone who was going to test him on fight night.

"We started with French and have had Portuguese, Croatians, Czechs - I have trawled Europe. I had injuries, even one guy away on a fishing trip!

"Not one wanted to come and fight him so we have got him Harry, a a no-nonsense Northern hard man who will come to give him his just desserts.

"He's the only man brave enough to come and fight him and Ryan is brave enough to step in to the ring with him. Fair play for stepping up to the mark."

Tipton's Ricky Summers, once an amateur with Lions ABC in Dudley, has also been presented with a test in a light heavyweight battle on the under-card.

The former senior ABA Midlands champion and national finalist will now meet puncher Elvis Dube, a heavy-hitter with two first round knockouts on his record.

Jordan Clayton, a super middleweight from Birmingham and twice a national amateur finalist, debuts on the bill against Congo-born Geordie Didier Blanche.

Clayton has been labelled "a mini Mike Tyson" by his trainer John Costello and reached Clubs for Young People and junior ABA national finals as an amateur.

At around 5ft 7ins, the 19-year-old is small for a super middleweight but has an all-action "crash, bang wallop" style and is returning to the sport after a break.

He said: "I had two years out of the gym and thought I was finished with boxing. I was drinking, eating rubbish and ended up weighing 16st.

"I remember stepping on the scales and thinking: 'What's going on ?' Now, I want my kids to be proud of me."

Wolverhampton's Des Bowater is also in action. The super featherweight from Wednesfield will jostle with a game fighter in Bristol's Harvey Hemsley.

Bloxwich's Luke Paddock completes the West Midlands contingent on the card and has been told to target a shut-out points win when he tackles the durable Paul Haines.

Undefeated Paddock squares up to the man from Manchester and, despite losing all of his eight pro fights so far, the 27-year-old has gone the distance every time.

And only two of those eight adversaries have won every round against 'Malky,' so Paddock has been set a double hat-trick target for the light welterweight four-rounder.

A first shut-out points win in the 21-year-old's third paid contest in what would be Haines' third defeat in that manner are the goals that will be in the mind of 'Cool Hand.'

Paddock's trainer Paul Gough said: "Luke will be looking to get the rounds in, he's a boxer and not an out-and-out puncher. A points shut-out would be a good result.

"There's not many who have done that against this lad and I can't see the point in going out to stop someone who is so durable.

"His opponent has been in some good quality lads, a couple were England representatives as amateurs, he is very competitive.

"We have been working on switching Luke's attacks to body and head and not jumping into shots, like he did in the amateurs.

"He's been settling down into more of a pro style and we have been pleased with what we have seen in the gym."

Tickets are available on the door tomorrow night. For more information, call the Civic box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.