Jason Welborn wants Brian Rose in good time

Welborn gets back to action at the Tudor Grange Leisure Centre in Solihull under the banner of his new management team,

MGM Birmingham are hosting the show, titled Jingle Brawls, after signing the 30-year-old to a promotional deal in October.

It puts Welborn under the tutelage of Matthew Macklin, who he famously clashed with for the WBC International super welterweight title 14 months ago.

Welborn was expected to be beaten easily but went down after the 10-round distance, with no more than three rounds in it with all three judges after 10 rounds.

Brummie Macklin went on to defeat Birmingham-born but Blackpool-based Rose by majority decision for the IBF Inter-Continental crown before hanging up his gloves, at the age of 34.

Rose is now trying to rebuild his career after a downturn, having been on a high enough pedestal to challenge for the WBO world title in 2014.

He last defeated negative Bulgarian Stiliyan Kostov by an eight-round points shut-out, on a Sky Sports televised card at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham.

Kostov was drafted for the October 22 bill after Welborn passed on the opportunity, as his fiance Rachel was due to give birth to his second daughter Demi-Rose.

Rose chose him over Craig Cunningham, who took Welborn's Midlands title on a close points call three months earlier.

Welborn said: "I want Brian now, he asked for me instead of Cunningham because they didn't want a southpaw. I'd have only had four weeks notice.

"With a proper camp, I'd be confident of beating him. I'd have to, because my career would be on the line. If I want to be on the big shows regularly, I have to start winning.

"Macklin was a huge opportunity for me and I thought I'd done enough to get something out of it. In the end, all I got was a lot of credit for it.

"Now we are on the same team and, if I do get Rose, there's a lot he can tell me about him. It would be just the sort of fight that I need."

Welborn's first task is to end a difficult 2016 on a winning note, which has included defeats to Cunningham and a shock loss to journeyman William Warburton at welter.

He also lost his mother at the end of last year, Chris, with the two-weight area champion vowing he would win a major title in her honour.

He said: "I've got two years left at the higher level, maybe more depending on how I go. I'm enjoying my boxing again and I feel I have got a lot more to offer.

"I used the sport to get over my mum dying and she was a big part of my boxing, Some people turn to drink and so on when they are grieving, but it was boxing for me.

"She's been gone a year now and time is a good healer. I can still make her proud of me with my achievements before I retire."

He's still smarting from the setback against Cunningham, whose hand was raised by a difference of three rounds in an arguably-harsh 97-94 decision with referee Shaun Messer.

Welborn would have won the belt outright with a victory, having climbed off the floor to outpoint Dudley's Ryan Aston 96-94 in his first title defence.

Cunningham went on to stun undefeated pro and Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo on that October 22 offering, putting him down on route to an eighth round retirement.

Welborn said: "I still thought I won the Cunningham fight, I pressured him for 10 rounds and all he could do was box on the outside. He couldn't stand toe-to-toe with me.

"Ryan Aston did the same to me and, as the champion, I still won because I was the aggressor. At least he put me down, I'd have given the belt to him over Cunningham.

"I'd have loved to have a go at Cunningham again, he's beaten Ogogo since but that's someone who I've never particularly rated.

"Credit to Cunningham for the win, but you wondered what Ogogo was doing with aspects of his performance. If he had boxed like that against me, I'd have knocked him out."

Welborn has been paired with Sonny Whiting for Saturday, a career middleweight who could pose an imposing figure after travelling down from Kent.

He added: "Sonny looks to be a tall boxer type who is 6ft plus, so I'll need to be switched on for all four rounds and look to start quickly, but I'll be coming after him."

Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, are still available from Welborn by calling 07540 990 166 or finding him on Facebook.