Tommy Langford gets Wayne Reed for Civic

Tommy Langford will tangle with powerful southpaw Wayne Reed in the chief support bout at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Valentine's Night.

The undefeated middleweight's 12th pro contest will see him put up his 'o' against the crash-and-bang merchant from Sheffield over 10 rounds.

Reed has a reputation for taking his opponents out or going down fighting, evidenced by five stoppage wins and the same number of TKO defeats on his record, writes Craig Birch.

The 27-year-old former Central Area boss has now been shipped in to test Langford's mettle in what could still be a title contest, live on BoxNation.

The Frank Warren-signed 'home' fighter, Devon-born but based in Birmingham, has been labelled "the most avoided middleweight in the Midlands."

Those words in the autumn came from sparring partner and British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Frankie Gavin, who severed his ties with Warren this week.

Langford said: "It's going to be an exciting year ahead for me and it starts in Wolverhampton.

"Providing I get through my first 10-rounder, which I'm confident I'll do, then I'm looking at titles so I hope to end the year with either a regional or the English belt.

"I'm ranked at No 20 in the new British rankings and I can honestly say, between me and the top 10, I'd be confident of beating any of them right now.

"Obviously, I've got to prove myself, but I believe this year, as the opponents step up each time and I get the experience, so will my performances.

"Wayne Reed presents a new challenge as a pro, although fighting a southpaw isn't something that daunts me. I've sparred countless rounds with Frankie.

"I am confident that, providing I perform how I know I can, I will put on an impressive performance. His record does show that he carries power, he's obviously dangerous but he has to hit me first."

An old rival of Langford's has been added to an increasingly bumper bill, which will now start an hour earlier from 6pm come fight night.

Dudley's Ryan Aston, who holds a win over Langford in the amateur ranks, comes onto the card for a light middleweight four-rounder, with Simone Lucas again offered the opponent slot.

Aston was supposed to take on Lucas in the Holte Suite at Aston Villa last month but the show was cancelled, which also left stable-mate Ricky Summers without a contest.

But Aston versus Lucas could now take place at the Civic, where Tipton's Summers will finally get his hands on Mitch Mitchell over six rounds at light heavyweight.

Soon to join Langford in the middleweight ranks is Redditch's Andrew Robinson, who is dropping down from super middle after a cracking contest with Frank Buglioni.

'Robbo' conceded the WBO European strap on points, again with the BoxNation cameras present, but showed guts to climb off the canvas in the seventh round and go the distance.

That is the only blot on the 30-year-old's paid copybook as he prepares for six rounds with Christian Hoskin-Gomez, a Devon-based Spaniard who likes to bomb forward.

The main event will see Stephen Ormond defend his WBO European lightweight crown against British champion Terry Flanagan, to decide the next contender to the organisation's world title.

For more information and tickets to the show, call the Civic box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.