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Jason Welborn lines up his British title chance

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Rowley Regis' Jason Welborn is ready to step back up a level after being paired in a British light middleweight title eliminator against Kris Carslaw.

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The British Boxing Board of Control have announced they want the two to meet to produce a challenger for champion Liam Smith.

Welborn banked 10 rounds against durable Bulgarian Stanislav Nenkov in the main event at Walsall Town Hall last night, but will have it far harder against Carslaw.

The Scottish stylist has already been in there for the belt against then-holder Brian Rose in 2012, losing unanimously on points after 12 rounds.

Welborn will be glad of the ring time with that in mind as he shut-out Nenkov over 10, winning every session 100-92 on referee Terry O'Connor's scorecard.

The 28-year-old tried to blast him out early on but was forced to box when Nenkov opted to keep out of harm's way, in what he felt was a worthwhile outing.

He said: "You don't learn much from knocking people out. The more time you spend in the ring, the better your endurance will be in the long run.

"I need a big fight now and, hopefully, that will be against Carslaw in July. I won't be able to take him lightly as you sometimes to do with kids like Nenkov."

Bloxwich's Luke Paddock came through a competitive eight-rounder against another Bulgarian visitor in Kristian Dochev, without dropping a session.

'The Warrior,' however, earned a share of two rounds, making Paddock work and utilise his skills to take home the decision.

'Cool Hand' put combinations together at will in the early rounds, before Dochev battled back into the fight from the third.

Great minds thought alike in that round as they launched dual right hooks, but Dochev's scruffy shot was bettered by a stinger from Paddock.

His European foe battled on but couldn't find the accuracy his opponent enjoyed, although Paddock wasn't able to discourage him either.

The British Masters Bronze light welterweight champion finished strong as got on his toes and picked his punches, but Dochev survived. Referee Shaun Messer had it 80-74 to Paddock on points.

Paddock said: "You could see my confidence is growing in there and it's seven in a row without defeat for me. I know now that I can do the distance easy.

"He was a tough European opponent, as I expected him to be, but I thought I showed a bit of skill and style in there. It was a good performance."

Wolverhampton's Des Bowater put on a five-star show for his fifth straight win as a professional, as he overwhelmed 132-fight Brummie veteran Sid Razak.

The two super featherweights clashed for six rounds, contested over two minutes, with Bowater setting a fast pace, buzzing around Razak with hooks and uppercuts from tight angles.

Razak ploughed forward looking for an opening which didn't come and couldn't match his work-rate, as Bowater worked in close.

He peppered Razak to the body and went upstairs, but the wily veteran hung in there with him. 'The Wednesfield Warrior' was a shut out winner, 60-54 with referee O'Connor.

Bowater said: "Sid is just naturally a big bigger than me and I could have bashed away at him all day. It was tough and that's what I wanted. It brings out my best."

Coseley's Jamie Gelder stepped in at less than a day's notice to take on Stourbridge's Kevin McCauley, after two opponents had dropped out on the former Midlands champion.

Stafford's Rob Hunt pulled out with a viral infection on fight week, while Stoke's Josh McLaren was also matched before suffering a family bereavement.

Gelder, waiting to make his pro debut, had been waiting by the phone since getting his licence. He was due to make his paid bow at Dudley's the Venue on Saturday June 7.

'Danger' hadn't come to pick up his money and run and fired off jabs to keep McCauley, giving up 11lb to his newest adversary in a bout that drifted up to super middleweight.

McCauley switched to southpaw in the second to try and pin down Gelder but walked onto a right hand, which he shook off and went back to work.

He finally had him trapped in the ropes come the third and his hands go, sneaking in a left hook as Gelder retreated, having switched to fire off the same shot earlier in the round.

McCauley found his jab in the last round but it was too late to change the mind of referee Messer, who awarded the contest to Gelder by 40-37 on points.

He said: "I have kept myself fit since I turned pro and I felt like I dominated, even thought Kevin is a tough opponent for anyone's first fight.

"I want to keep busy and I won't be one of those journeyman that comes to lose, I will go anywhere but I will be trying to win."

By Craig Birch