Lennox Clarke scores another swift TKO
Title tests could well next await the Black Country duo who featured on the latest pro boxing at Walsall Town Hall.
Halesowen's Lennox Clarke topped the bill and, again, needed of all one round to wipe out the game Dean Gillen in a bout that was scheduled for eight,
'Dangerous' proved true to his adage with a hammer of a right hand that decked Gillen, who freely admitted he didn't even see the shot coming. There was just 38 seconds of the round left.
The 24-year-old super middleweight is already mandatory challenger to the vacant Midlands title, but a suitable co-contender has yet to be found.
Clarke may end up bypassing that and going after English champion Jahmaine Smyle, from Leicester, in what would be a hugely enticing all-Midlands clash.
And as for Stokes, he only opened the show here on Saturday night but has been petitioned to box for the area middleweight title.
Current titlist Craig Cunningham may have to vacate after dropping down to super welter, leaving an opening.
A contest involving Bloxwich's Breeze, popular and undefeated like Stokes with 10 victories to his potential opponent's seven and all over the distance, would certainly get fight fans talking.
West Bromwich's Stokes entered seventh heaven with a four-round victory over Lewis van Poetsch, who knew he'd been in a battle by the end of it.
Stokes bloodied his nose from right hooks and attacked with purpose, with the left hand also doing damage in the third but van Poetsch saw out the distance.
He survived on points but there was nothing on the cards for him with referee Shaun Messer, one of two officials for evening with Kevin Parker. His hand was raised by a 40-36 points verdict.
Four other bouts featured on this 'Summer Scorcher' show, presented by promoter Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing outfit.
Craig Morris, from Ludlow in Shropshire, chief supported in a flawless light middleweight six-rounder against Lithuanian Arvydas Trizno.
Unbeaten Morris, back at the scene where four of his victories out of six have taken place since turning pro, rolled over his international opponent by a 60-54 verdict.
Solihull's Jordan Clayton was penalised but was still an easy winner over four rounds against Andrej Capur, who did very well to last the distance.
The Russian-born visitor looked completely exhausted by the end of the third round, although Messer docked a point for low blows from Clayton. The latter prevailed by a 39-36 scoreline.
Birmingham's Luke Walker threw the kitchen sink at Dan Blackwell, the brother of Chris Eubank Junior's opponent nick to avail.
Blackwell, who was threatening to retire, walked through blows and ended up with his trademark bloody nose, down to an old injury.
Walker operated behind an excellent guard to throw loaded blows at close quarters and dodged a Blackwell fightback in the fourth and last round. Victory was his by a 39-38 points call.
There was nothing technical about the shoot out between Coventry's James Montgomery and Brummie Dwayne Sheldon, which ended with the second round just 12 seconds old.
Montgomery had already been down from a stiff right hook and, once more, dropped his hands to be clobbered again with a right hook.
He wandered around in a sunken dream, as Sheldon resumed his attacks looking for the finish. In stepped Parker, the official, at the opportune time.
[interruptor]
