Craig Cunningham makes it through eight rounds

The Midlands middleweight champion, an Oldbury-based Brummie, was back in action on Tommy Owens' show in the Holte Suite at Aston Villa Football Club.

In the other corner was Marcus Le Doux, who he traded two-to-one knockdowns with when outpointing him in a previous meeting two years ago, writes Craig Birch.

This time they stayed on their feet, but the fight changed when Cunningham was sliced on the right eyebrow from a clash of heads early on.

That forced him to operate on the back-foot protecting the wound for the second half of the fight and affected his performance.

Le Doux claimed two round rounds on the way but the area boss was better in half of the distance, plus two drawn sessions with referee Martin Williams.

Cunningham had his hand raised by 78-76 after the final bell but was underwhelmed by his display, even if it did rid him of ring rust ahead of a planned autumn title defence.

He said: "It was hard boxing on through blood. I thought, at one point, they might have even stopped the fight.

"It put me off my game and I did feel a bit flat from the start. My timings were off, mainly, so maybe I need to spend more time in the ring.

"I got the win, ultimately, and we move on to whatever is next. I guarantee you I will perform a lot better in that scenario.

"I was glad of the rounds, I'll work on a few things over the summer and come back raring to go. I want to be tested."

The 27-year-old has issued an open challenge for the title he has yet to defend, which is already drawing interest.

The man he beat for the title, 'Prince' David Davis, took to Twitter to demand a rematch, while Halesowen's Lennox Clarke watched from ringside at Villa.

It gives Cunningham heart big bouts are in the pipeline, saying: "All I ever wanted to be is a fighting champion, so bring it on.

"It's down to the managers and promoters to make the fights, but I am here whenever anyone wants me."