Rob Hunt lined up for English title crack
Stafford's Rob Hunt could be handed an opportunity at the English welterweight title after his winning return to action on Saturday night.
The former Midlands champion stepped through the ropes for the first time since painfully losing the area crown, writes Craig Birch.
The unfamiliar surroundings of Ludlow Racecourse provided the back drop for his points whitewash victory in a bloodbath with Faheem Khan.
And the notion already been put to the 30-year-old to take on Johnny Garton for the soon-to-be vacant English belt at York Hall in London on May 7.
Adam Little, the champion, is expected to vacate the crown, with the new contenders to be discussed by the British Boxing Board of Control this week.
Hunt has a cut on top of his head and fluid in his wrists to contend with first, but would jump at the chance of his first title opportunity at national level.
The 10-year professional is keen to make amends for the loss of his Midlands honours in just two rounds to Karl Wiggins, who has since lost the strap to Ryan Fields.
Hunt said: "I'm in the game for big fights and big nights and, with how long I've been in the pros, I don't want to be hanging around too much.
"If this opportunity is iron-clad and we can get it rubber-stamped, I'll be straight back in the gym getting ready for the fight. All I'm waiting on is confirmation."
Hunt first had to negotiate a stormy four-rounder with Khan, who suffered a massive gash below his right eye to go with his opponent's wound.
He took the decision 40-36 with referee for the night Shaun Messer, but had something to think about on the way to victory.
Hunt said: "I think they were both down to head clashes, but my jabbing had started to open him up around the same region just before.
"He was so unorthodox, wild but strong with it as well and it turned into a bit of a war. My concentration had to be bang on."
The Black Country's Manny Zaber also rolled over his opponent over the distance, making it 5-0-0 at lightweight.
Old Hill's Zaber dropped Ben Zacharkiw by feinting to put together a left hook and a loaded right together in the first round.
Zaber put him over again in the second round with another right hand, but had to settle on a wide 40-34 points decision rather than his first TKO.
