Coseley light middleweight Jamie Ball has nothing but respect for Matt Scriven as the two prepare to go toe-to-toe in a rematch at Dudley’s The Venue.

Part two will take place next Saturday night – this time over six, three minute rounds rather than four – after Ball took the first decision at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in April.

But the veteran from Nottingham is a tough customer hardened by 76 professional fights over a 12-year paid career.

Now 36, Scriven is regarded as a learning curve for the young stars of today, and Ball has plenty of praise for his opponent ahead of the fight.

The 25-year-old said: “Matt is a great ambassador to the sport, he gets in there with all the new kids coming through and plays a big part in their development.

“I won’t have to chase Scriven, he will be there for me and always comes to fight. I have got two more rounds with him than last time and I will enjoy it, to be honest.

“He’s a stern test over the distance and it will be a good fight.”

Ball still needs keyhole surgery on a torn cartilage in his knee, and this will be the third time this year ‘the Bully’ has fought with an injury.

But the carrot of topping the bill for the first time after eight unbeaten fights since turning pro in June 2008 was too much to turn down.

He said: “As soon as I found out that this date was available and they wanted me to top the bill, I put off the operation straight away. I will probably go under the knife in December, with a view to being back in action by the end of February.

“Hopefully I can enjoy my Christmas and New Year with my unbeaten record intact.”

Ball’s reluctance to go under the knife has meant that hard running is out in training and on the night, but the light middleweight continues to think of ways to keep himself fighting fit.

He said: “My knee is alright until I do any running, but then it swells up and I get a lot of pain with it. At the moment, I have got round it by using the cross trainer at the gym instead for my cardio work.

“So, instead of six miles running, I do eight or nine miles on the machine to keep my weight down.”

To be there for fight night, contact promoter Paul ‘PJ’ Rowson on 07976 283 157.