Luke Paddock v Chris Truman for Midlands
Luke Paddock will box Chris Truman for the now-vacant Midlands light welterweight title after champion Calum Cooper was forced to retire.
Aston's Truman has stepped in to co-challenge for the area belt with Bloxwich's Paddock at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Friday October 24,
Birmingham's Cooper has hung up his gloves after failing a brain scan, which could have led to the British Boxing Board of Control revoking his licence for his own safety.
'The Trumanator' has credentials after already challenging for the Midlands crown once and has 12 wins from 18 pro outings, with four defeats.
The 30-year-old has avoided defeat in double the amount of bouts Paddock has on his entire paid ledger and has lasted the title distance three times.
He's gone all the way with new Commonwealth champion Dave Ryan and former British boss Lenny Daws, putting up a real fight in both contests.
But the game Paddock readily accepted the first alternative choice for his opponent and now it's all systems go for fight night at the Civic.
Promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson said: "We are all gutted for Calum, but it's the right thing for him to do. He's a young man with a family and his safety must come first.
"Him and Luke would have already been a fantastic fight, but what a replacement we have now in Chris. He's higher up the rankings than either of them.
"At short notice, it's a risk for him and Luke but the Midlands is the second biggest area the board control, so this belt could take the winner to bigger and better things.
"And, with their fight coming in front of the BoxNation cameras, you can bet that whoever shines in this fight will not go unnoticed."
A heartbroken Cooper called time on his career through his Facebook page, the 26-year-old bowing out as the reigning Midlands champion having defended his title once.
He said: "This is one the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but I have got to put my family first and make the right decisions by them.
"Recent brain scans have been very questionable, but hardly surprising with the wars I have been in during my career.
"I hear all the time about fighters who had that one fight too many and changes their life forever. I'm not about to do that to my family.
"I am very proud of everything I accomplished in my whole run in the amateur and professional ranks, 10 years of boxing is a long time.
"I lived my dream of winning a championship belt in a professional boxing ring and being a noticeable fighter in the Midlands."
For more information and tickets, call the Civic box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.
[interruptor]
