Stafford's Grant Cunningham won't lose his cool

The undefeated prospect from Moss Pit takes on Leeds' Damon Jones in a 10-round eliminator at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock on February 28,

The bout is expected to produce the next challenger to long-standing champion Danny Butler, who has already defended the belt three times.

That will be test enough, but Cunningham's only target for his immediate future is to shuffle into position for a title shot.

Jones, just 21, has already raced to 12 straight wins as a professional, with three stoppages, including a third round TKO of Kieron Gray in his last fight.

'Maximus' will be 31 by the time he steps through the ropes but is taking the task in his stride, even if he has to drop down from super middle to tackle a tricky southpaw.

He said: "It takes quite a lot to get me flustered. It takes a lot to get me to do something I haven't thought about and I like to think about everything I do, both in and out of the ring.

"It will be a raucous, frenzied atmosphere, but I know I can keep my cool in there and I think that will serve me well.

"If I'm fit and ready, that's the most important thing. I'm working on southpaw sparring and, closer to the time, I will start looking at him and working on a specific game plan.

"If you look at someone too much, though, you start seeing things that aren't there. I focus on myself, first and foremost.

"I have no concerns about the weight. I was 11st 8lb for my last fight. I'm taking my boxing a lot more seriously now and I can see doors opening up for me."

Cunningham is one of two Stafford fighters battling for a belt on the card, with Rob Hunt contesting the eight-round British Bronze Masters welterweight title against Derbyshire's Steve Jevons.

Again, it's a pivotal fight 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.

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.

Stoke duo Andy Keates and Josh McLaren, Birmingham's Sean Davis and Leeds' Steven Mennell complete the line-up for the show.

Tickets are on sale, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, and are available by calling 01543 504 065.