Pastures new for Ricky Summers at Town Hall

The pro section at Priory Park has been dissolved going into the new year as the gym focusses on their amateurs,

That left Paddock, from Bloxwich, and Tipton's Summers without a corner despite their promising futures in the paid code.

Summers has signed a management deal with Errol Johnson, with Paddock on his own turf topping the Town Hall bill in an eight-rounder.

The former Midlands super lightweight champion is chasing a rematch with nemesis Andy Keates, who has twice failed in steps up to the English title, for those area honours.

Stylish Paddock, 25, has 15 wins (one TKO) and just two defeats on his record, on points to Keates and a stoppage loss to Anthony Upton for the then-vacant English crown at super lightweight.

Summers was knocking on the door of national honours at light heavyweight at the start of last year, but a stop-start 2016 has halted his progress.

The 29-year-old has now taken ex-pro Richard Ghent as his main coach and will train out of Ghent's RG Box Fit base in Bilston, Wolverhampton.

'Digger' remains unbeaten, having reeled off 12 victories from 12 outings with five inside-the-distance. He sparred with then British boss Hosea Burton before he lost the belt.

Summers was ranked 10th in Britain when Boxing News published their latest standings and has made new English champion Joel McIntyre his immediate target.

Keep-busy bouts await them under Johnson's Black Country Boxing promotional banner at the Town Hall, with a host of other prospects gearing up for action.

The undefeated Tom Stokes, from West Bromwich, features as he closes in on a shot at the Midlands middleweight title.

The 22-year-old has racked up eight points victories so far and the hunt is on for a suitable co-challenger to the vacant area strap, after Daniel Breeze's defection to bareknuckle boxing.

Manny Zaber, of Old Hill, will be looking to bounce back after losing his '0' to Josh Baillie at the same venue in November.

'Pac Man' was pulled out at the end of round five after a huge cut opened up above his left eye, ending the contest three rounds early.

A healed and smarting Zaber now wants to build on his eight points wins in the super featherweight division with time on his side, having only just turned 22.

Wolverhampton's Kyle Williams has aspirations of joining a stacked list of area contenders around flyweight for big fights.

A rivalry with fellow former world kickboxing champion turned pugilist Brad Foster is emerging along with Louis Norman, Matt Windle and English super fly champion Don Broadhurst.

Williams, 24, halted the usually-durable Patrik Bartos the last time around to keep up his perfect record after four contests.

The second dan black belt, from Whitmore Reans, continues to work as an instructor at Fran Zuccala's Eclipse Kickboxing & Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in Wolverhampton city centre.

Johnson also bloods two new debutants, one the first female professional from the Black Country since three-time world title challenger Lyndsey Scragg hung up her gloves in 2010.

Lauren Johnson, also from Wolverhampton, burst into boxing in 2012 by claiming a national ABA amateur title in her very first contest by first round knockout.

Now 32, 'the Black Widow' is coming into the pro game as a middleweight after learning her craft at the Wodensborough and Walsall Wood clubs.

West Bromwich's Dwain Grant also turns over and could be a surprise package, coming from the unlicensed circuit. The elusive slugger has been dubbed 'Cheeky.'

The card is completed by heavyweight Dilly Singh, a prospect from Coventry with two points wins to his credit, and Brummie bantamweight Ijaz Ahmed.

Tickets for the show, titled 'No Guts, No Glory,' are on sale now priced at £30 and £60 ringside from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.

The show is sponsored by Grosvenor Casino Walsall, on Bentley Mill Way, who will host the weigh-in and after-show party (over 18s).

A number of free cars from Walsall-based firm Yellow Taxis will go from the fight venue to the function after the last bell.