Luke Paddock prepares for his title defence
Bloxwich's Luke Paddock will tick over with a tune up on home turf next week before he finally makes his first defence of the Midlands light welterweight title.
'Cool Hand' is first looking to go four rounds with durable journeyman Matt Seawright at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday's fight night,
The British Boxing Board of Control have made Aston's Chris Truman the mandatory challenger to his belt, a contest due to take place in the summer.
The bout will soon be confirmed for Saturday June 6 at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, where they were due to meet for the then-vacant crown last October before Truman pulled out.
Paddock went on to claim the strap by outpointing Stoke's Josh McLaren in December with Newark's Fergus Taylor, another considered as an opponent, then lined up for a shot.
Taylor was forced to withdraw from February's showdown at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock on medical grounds, with Paddock defeating 'Fonz' Alexander over a six round distance instead.
The 23-year-old has been frustrated in his attempts to prove himself as a fighting champion and is determined to terminate the credentials of 'the Trumanator.'
Paddock said: "I'm looking forward to fighting. It's always a pleasure to fight in my home town and the Town Hall is a very special venue for me
"I'm scheduled to defend my title against Truman during the summer and I want to keep busy. I was offered the chance to feature here and I was delighted to accept.
"We've been looking for someone who is short and stocky with decent power. That way, I can prepare for my first title defence.
"The Alexander fight was a good test for me. He came in at late notice, but came to win. I had prepared for a title fight, though, and that's why I was back in the gym virtually straight away.
"That means I'm in good shape going into this four-rounder. I have Truman in my sights, but I need to take care of business in Walsall first."
The vacant Midlands welterweight title will be contested at the top of the bill, in a 10-rounder between Stafford's Rob Hunt and Nuneaton's Sullivan Mason.
Two former area bosses feature elsewhere on the under-card in Rowley Regis' Jason Welborn, also twice a challenger to the British light middleweight title, and Stourbridge's Steven Pearce.
Popular middleweight Warren Sinden, from Welshpool, and Burton-based light welter Tom Shaw also appear on the card.
Wolverhampton's Sid Bowater and Craig Morris, from Ludlow in Shropshire, make their professional debuts. Essington's Ben Wilkes, like Morris a light middle, returns after a five-year absence.
Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, are available from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.
