Steven Pearce targets next Midlands champion
Stourbridge's Steven Pearce will immediately target the winner of the Midlands welterweight title fight after the main event at Walsall Town Hall.
Pearce is on the under-card on Saturday night with a tilt at the eight-round British Masters Bronze belt against Amir Unsworth,
Sleaford's Unsworth, a fellow former area champion at lightweight, will take him on in what's expect to be a war between two tough scrappers.
Provided he comes out on top, 'Fierce Pearce' will then watch Stafford's Rob Hunt and Nuneaton's Sullivan Mason contest area welter honours.
It's a strap he held in 2013 before relinquishing to fellow Stourbridge fighter Sam Eggington, who vacated to go for the Commonwealth crown.
And Pearce today declared he want his belt back, having taken out Hunt in five rounds for the British Masters title at the same venue later in 2013.
The 30-year-old is dropping down from a brief spell at light middle where Jason Welborn, a new stable-mate at Shaun Cooper's gym in Brierley Hill, is Midlands champion.
He said: "Jason is on our team now, so that fight will never happen. I'm getting back down to welterweight if I go for the Midlands again.
"I will be interested to see who wins out of Hunt and Mason. I'm concentrating only on my fight, though. Amir is a tough and strong fighter.
"I respect and rate him, he's won belts and fought at English title level. Styles make fights and this has the makings of an explosive battle.
"The crowd will be getting their monies worth!"
Pearce boxed for the first time in seven months at the Chase Leisure Centre in Cannock two months, outpointing Dean Mills by 40-36 shut-out.
And he believes he's ready for the title distances again after blowing off the cobwebs, with this battle for a belt now in his most immediate sights.
He said: "It felt good to fight again put into practice the things I'd been working on in the gym. I felt calm and relaxed. I didn't waste any punches.
"I need to be more active and ready to take big fights if the money and notice is right, so I'm glad this is now a title fight. It will open doors."
Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, are available from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.
