Matchroom is deja vu for Lennox Clarke

The big-time again comes calling for the heavy-handed super middleweight prospect a week on Saturday October 22,

Clarke has featured for Matchroom once before and at the same venue, the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, on 9 May 2015.

The 25-year-old laboured to a routine four-round points victory over Alistair Warren with a performance he feels didn't do him justice.

Then the match was made for him to return to the same fight arena for a shot at the Midlands middleweight title, against champion Craig Cunningham.

It was Clarke who pulled out citing illness, with Cunningham instead outpointing Adam Jones in a six-rounder. That sort of opportunity hasn't come along since.

Clarke returned to the small hall shows and has picked up four more victories, three by TKO. Two were first round stoppages, the other halted in the second. He now has 13 wins from 13.

Manager Errol Johnson has got him another chance to compete at the Barclaycard, with Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn again the man to impress.

It will come four days on from a year to the day that he and Birmingham's Cunningham were set to battle for the belt, with this test ironically against Jones.

Clarke said: "I probably won't be live on Sky, because there's so much on the show. I'm not too bothered about that, as long as all of the right people are there. I'm looking to make a statement.

"I've been here before, I consider it the poorest boxing performance of my career against Warren but I still beat him easy, on my worst day.

"I'm determined to put that right, showing how good I can be by doing a job on Jones. He's never been stopped and he'll come to win.

"He's a pressure fighter who I need to win every round against and I'll need to be switched on for every second. I imagine he'll stay in my face.

"If he wants to come forward, he'll be walking onto my big shots all night. I'll be relaxed and looking to show how I can box. I could do with the rounds.

"I still regret the Cunningham fight not happening but when you are not well, you don't get in there. It's as simple as that.

"I've still got my eyes on titles and he was the only one who seemed that willing to take me on. It's a shame, but we've moved on."

There were some suggestions Clarke could contest the vacant Midlands super middleweight crown with Coventry's Joe Sherriff on the show.

That hasn't comes to pass, so Clarke is engaging in a keep-busy affair instead and is now permanently campaigning at the higher weight.

Cunningham, meanwhile, had landed a WBC International middleweight title shot against much-vaunted Olympian and undefeated pro Anthony Ogogo on the card.

Clarke said: "I'm still living in hope a big fight for me will come along, I wouldn't want to go into another year without any belts.

"It's a waiting game and all I ever seem to be thinking about is who, where and when. But this is boxing where, when things come together, they do quickly."

The top of the bill will see the long-awaited clash between Stourbridge's Sam Eggington and Birmingham's Frankie Gavin, for the WBC International title at welterweight.

An all-Birmingham title fight will see Gamal Yafai defend his Commonwealth super bantamweight strap against English boss Sean Davis.

Two English titles will also be contested with a rematch for Don Broadhurst and Louis Norman, who drew for the flyweight crown. They now chase national prestige at super fly.

Midlands lightweight champion Marcus Ffrench could upgrade his standing if he can beat Central area counterpart Robbie Barrett for the division's area honours.

Midlands light welter titlist Andy Keates will also make his first area defence against the highly-rated prospect Jordan Cooke, a match that has been months in the making.

Further support bouts will provide action for Brian Rose, Ryan Kelly, Cori Gibbs and Sam Bowen, with opponents to be confirmed.

Tickets are available now priced at £40, £60 and £100 from www.barclaycardarena.co.uk or by calling 0844 338 8000.

VIP passes, costing £150, will be exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com or on 01277 359 900.