A 'telling fight' for Walsall's Martin Gethin

The former British lightweight champion will box for the first time in 14 months against Alexander 'Fonz' Anderson in a six-rounder,

Appearing on a Matchroom show live on Sky Sports, only the bell saved his opponent Tommy Coyle last time out after Gethin dropped him with a left hook in the second round.

It went awry when Gethin had to retire at the end of the fifth, when a long-standing ear issue flared up again. After successful treatment, he's hoping to have seen the last of the problem.

His comeback bout was due to take place at Walsall Town Hall in March, but he was forced to pull out with a chest injury.

But there appears to be no stopping the 32-year-old this time, against the original opponent for his last date. The busy scrapper from Newark across the Midlands comes to fight, too.

And many fight fans will be intrigued to see what 'the Quiet Man' has left in the tank, having travelled up to welter for the latter stages of his 12-year pro career.

Gethin is used to the big stage, but this outing will have it's own appeal as the lifelong Walsall Football Club fan fights at the Banks's Stadium.

Paid pugilism will again be the order of the day in the Stadium Suite at the Banks's, where ring legend Ricky Hatton joint promotes with Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing.

Gethin said: "I'm really looking forward to it, especially the fact it's at the Banks's as well. I've been out for a bit as well, so it's good to get back in.

"I've been pushing myself a bit harder to make sure I'm fit and ready for this fight I've trained hard and I've got my weight down.

"I've been doing more strength training and doing a lot of swimming as well to make sure I'm ready for the day. I'm feeling confident. I've worked hard and I've got myself ready for the fight.

"I need to get a win to keep me high up in the rankings where I am now. This will be a telling fight, whether it's the end of me or if I'm ready to get back to the top and win some more titles.

"I've won a few titles before and I want to win some more."

Gethin is part of the supporting cast to a double main event, where Hatton prospects Sam Evans and Nathan Gorman both headline in separate bouts on the card.

Wednesbury's Evans, 20, is campaigning in the light welterweight division where his mentor reigned by winning IBO, IBF and WBA 'super' world titles during his own career.

Heavyweight Gorman, from Nantwich in Cheshire, is going after his fourth straight win with no losses, like Evans.

Rowley Regis' Jason Welborn, Midlands light middleweight champion and two-time British title challenger, also appears. He destroyed Michal Vosyka in 56 seconds at welter last month.

Kieron McLaren and former world kickboxing champion Chad Sugden complete the line-up, the latter having already successfully made the switch.

Sugden, 21, held the ISKA world middleweight crown and remains the youngest to ever win a belt from that organisation.

He shut out the never-stopped Lithuanian Deividas Sajauka over-the-distance. The man from Newark in the East Midlands is known as '2 Slick.'

Unbeaten light welterweight McLaren will be after his eighth straight win as a pro. 'Gunner,' from Stoke, is still awaiting his first stoppage, though.

Tickets for the show, called 'May-Hem,' are still on sale. Standard passes are £30 with VIPs, at £60, including a two-course meal on tables of 10.

For more information and to purchase, call the Walsall FC Box Office on 01922 651 414, extension 416.