Dudley hosts Eastman's title bid

Dudley Town Hall is to host a Commonwealth title fight when world renowned British middleweight champion Howard Eastman meets former WBA title holder Evans Ashira.

Hugely-respected Eastman faces the number one contender for the vacant belt in the bill-topper on the show on April 20. It's the first time the region has hosted a national title for many years.

Now 36, Battersea-based Eastman has been in with some of the best fighters and took one of the greats, Bernard Hopkins, the full 12 rounds for the WBC middleweight crown in February 2005.

Hopkins became undisputed world middleweight champion when he beat Oscar de la Hoya in September 2004.

Eastman, who is trained by former Birmingham fighter Robert McCracken, should be a huge draw at the box office, having stopped 35 of the 41 opponents he has beaten.

Kenyan-born Ashira, who fights out of Denmark, will be boxing on British soil for the first time.

But the 37-year-old has pedigree, having stopped 13 of his 25 opponents, while he won the WBA crown with an 11th round stoppage against Swede Fredrik Alvarez in 2001.

Ashira also went the full distance with WBO middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe in his last but one fight in September 2005. Eastman last held the Commonwealth crown in September 2000 when he beat Aussie Sam Soliman on points.

The arrival of Eastman in the Black Country could be seen as a forerunner to an eagerly-awaited showdown with Dudley's middleweight champion Darren McDermott.

"The Bodysnatcher" McDermott is looking up for a step in clash and would relish a crack at the British belt.

Co-promoter Paul Rowson said: "This massive news to get this in Dudley – people all over boxing are talking about it.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Black Country fight fans to see a Commonwealth title fight – and they will be for a treat seeing Howard, who is a huge puncher."

Also on the bill, West Bromwich banger Dean Hickman faces unbeaten Scot Dave Stewart in a British and Commonwealth title eliminator at lightweight.