Male prepares for tough title test

Cradley's punching postman Chris Male is expecting fireworks as two of the country's up-and-coming featherweights prepare for their first title fight.

The main event at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on June 6 will pit Male against Melksham's highly-rated Liam Richards for the vacant British Masters title, and someone's unbeaten record must go for a new champion to be crowned.

Male is 8-0-0 to his 23-year-old opponent's 6-0-0 and both have built reputations has endurance boxers, having yet to finish a fight inside the distance.

But the stakes are higher then ever now and there is little room for error, as the Black Country challenger points out exactly what is at stake.

He said: "From the clips I seen of him I already know that he is going to come forward and have a good go. He's going to come full of beans and will be looking to beat me, so I have got to change his mind pretty fast.

"I feel fantastic, like I am really coming into my prime as a boxer, and I feel ready for any of them. He's never been in there with anyone who can damage him like me.

"Every fight at the minute is crucial for me, and it will probably take the best performance of my career to come through this one."

Male also remains the No 1 contender to Del Rogers' Midlands title, having won an eliminator against Sid Razak at Dudley's The Venue last October, and the British Boxing Board of Control want him to have had his shot within the next six months.

The champion is in action without the belt up for grabs against Pavels Senkovs at Birmingham's Holiday Inn on May 24, after his camp turned the chance of facing Male for the crown on the show.

But the 27-year-old is over that disappointment and already looking up to bigger things, possibly even a crack at the resurrected English title last won by Derry Matthews in January 2006.

He said: "To be honest, I am not interested in Del Rogers anymore. I had worked him out anyway and he was nowhere near strong enough to beat me.

"I wasn't going to hang around waiting for him, and from what my trainer has told me a big win could maybe nudge me up to English title level.

"Maybe Del would also be interested in that but he didn't want to fight me for the Midlands title, so why would he want to now?"

For tickets, call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.

The 10-fight show will also be broadcast online live on pay-per view at a cost of just £2.99, through Hatton TV at www.brandhatton.com.