The gloves are off for Walsall FC's fight night
Walsall goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell today gave the thumbs up to the club's championship boxing bill at the Banks's Stadium in February.
The Saddlers shot-stopper is from Sheffield, the same city which boasts reigning IBF world welterweight champion Kell Brook,
Wolverhampton's Des Bowater and Tipton's Lennox Clarke take their first steps towards titles in the Stadium Suite on Saturday February 21, with Stoke's Kieron McLaren also in action.
O'Donnell welcomed the trio to the ground with the team preparing for their own main event - the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area final at Preston tonight.
He said: "There a few good fighters from down my end in Sheffield, it's very much a boxing city, and it's great we have got this show here.
"Walsall are a family club, they do a lot commercially and in the community and that's their lifeblood for the future.
"We, as players, can tell how hard the staff are working behind-the-scenes to boost the club's revenue and use all of the resources that they have."
Clarke has finally been matched for his half of the title tilt, with him going for the British Masters Bronze super middleweight title in an eight-round contest.
The former white collar fighter is developing a reputation as a puncher, with three stoppages from his six straight wins including a stunning 14 second knockout of Raimonds Sniedze.
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But Dan Blackwell, brother of former English middleweight champion and British title challenger Nick, has agreed to step up to the plate.
While the Wiltshire scrapper has only won six out of 46 professional contests, he's only ever been stopped once, so Clarke will literally have to smash through him.
He said: "It became a bit of a problem finding an opponent, to be honest. I don't think they really want to fight me..
"But Dan Blackwell is game and he comes to have a row, which is good for me, but I know I will be the winner.
"'I'm hoping to go on to bigger and better things in 2015."
Bowater was paired with Leicester's Lewis Jones as soon as the line-up was announced, having recorded his own half dozen of paid wins, but none by knockout.
'The Wednesfield Warrior' is in there for the British Masters Bronze title at super feather, with Jones also having never been taken out over-the-distance.
His East Midlands rival has experienced the same amount of pro bouts winning, losing and drawing in equal measure, while 'D Bow' has only ever dropped a round on the cards.
Bowater said: "I have wanted a title fight for a while now and I can't wait to get back in the ring.
"I'm an exciting fighter. It's going to be a war with lots of punches thrown and, hopefully, a knockdown in this one.
"I'm confident I can adapt to whatever style he fights and that the people will get their money's worth, that's for sure."
Tickets range from £30, £40 ringside or £50 VIP with a three-course meal included. For more information, call the Walsall FC ticket office on 01922 651 414-416 or 07557 395 138.
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