Grant Cunningham gets an English eliminator
Stafford's Grant Cunningham has been handed home advantage for his final step towards the English middleweight title next month.
The undefeated prospect from Moss Pit will tackle Leeds' Damon Jones in an eliminator at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock on Saturday February 28.
It could be make or break for the 30-year-old, who turns 31 four days before fight night, in a contest where someone's '0' must go to decide the next challenger.
Jones, just 21, has already raced to 12 wins as a professional, with three stoppages, including a third round TKO of Kieron Gray in his last fight.
Gray took Cunningham the distance as the Stafford stylist widely outpointed him to take him his first title, the British Masters Bronze super middleweight title, at the same venue in October.
'Maximus' is 10-0 for paid wins himself and pits skill against will with the dangerous Jones, who has shook up most of his opponents.
Cunningham is one of two Stafford fighters battling for a belt on the card, with Rob Hunt also contesting the eight-round British Bronze Masters welterweight title against Derbyshire's Steve Jevons.
Again, it could be the last chance for Hunt, who is hoping to make it third time lucky against the durable Jevons, who is coming off the back of losing his own title shot.
The 29-year-old has over eight years and 24 bouts worth of paid experience, but has fallen short on both occasions he has been in for a crown.
Both the British and International Masters straps have fell by the wayside as a result, while Jevons was halted in three by Shayne Singleton for British Masters Silver honours last time out.
Bloxwich's Luke Paddock immediately puts up his Midlands light welterweight title in the other half of the main event which, alongside Cunningham versus Jones, is a 10-rounder.
Newark's Fergus Taylor, who was first approached as an opponent for Paddock in October when the area crown was still vacant, gets his shot.
Paddock came off age to convincingly outpoint Stoke's Josh McLaren when he was finally afforded his opportunity two months later.
And 'Cool Hand' is keen to prove he's a fighting champion against Taylor, formerly a British Masters Bronze boss down at lightweight.
Former Midlands welterweight champion Steven Pearce, from Stourbridge, appears on the under-card in his first bout for seven months.
'Fierce Pearce' is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses to Bradley Skeete and Ryan Hardy, by starting to tidy up a 8-4-0 pro record.
Coventry's Troy James, one of the top contenders to the British super featherweight title, also gets a run-out in a 'keep busy' fight.
Birmingham's Sean Davis, Stoke's Andy Keates, Chester's Nathan Clarke and Leeds' Steven Mennell complete the line-up for the show.
Tickets have gone on sale, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, and are available by calling 01543 504 065.
