Jason Welborn back in title clash

The exciting 12 rounder takes place on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s IBF world featherweight title defence against mandatory challenger, Kid Galahad.

It will be Welborn’s first fight since his brave world title challenge against IBF and WBA champion Jarrett Hurd in Los Angeles five months ago when he went down fighting in four rounds.

Former road worker Welborn (24-7, 7KOs) had won five on the spin before that loss to one of boxing’s emerging stars.

That run included picking up the British middleweight title against fellow Albion fan Tommy Langford and then beating his local rival in a rematch.

Welborn, 32, has been a professional since December 2005, but the desire to get back fighting the best 154lb boxers in the world is still burning inside despite a long and successful career.

He said: “I felt brilliant and strong in there against Hurd and got caught by a brilliant shot. I left it all in there and did better than some British boxers who have been abroad.

“I thought about retiring, but I think there are a few good fights in me before I hang up my gloves.

“I felt I belonged at world level when I boxed Hurd and that is where I want to get back to in the next 12 months.

“JJ is a good prospect, a strong fighter and the kind of style I like to face so I won’t have to go looking for him.

“It is a great fight for me after the world title challenge, there is something to gain and it is on one of Frank Warren’s big cards of the year.

“It is not about the money now as I have a skip business that is going well. I just want to get back to where I was before I boxed Hurd. If I do that, I make an impact.”

Liverpool’s Metcalf (19-0, 11 KOs) is the son of former world class super-lightweight Shea Neary and looking to follow in his dad’s footsteps.