Jason Welborn's new secret weapon

Dudley light middleweight Jason Welborn has found a secret weapon to get him back up to speed for his return to the ring next month.

Coseley's Andrew Flute was a British middleweight title contender before retiring from boxing in 2004, and is now Welborn's training partner at Roy Skeldon's Black Country Boxing gym in Dudley.

The two also make their living together as door men, keeping order at all of the big televised boxing shows as well as at the city centre bars in Birmingham, but by day the two have been hitting the training beat getting Welborn ready to face Ryan Clark at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on September 5.

A friend in need and a love of the sport are the main incentives for Flute, who turned 40 this year.

For Welborn it's about getting himself up and running at long last after just four professional fights in five years, which included a three-year absence from the sport as he set up his own landscaping business.

These days it's just the doors for the 24-year-old and that suits him just fine, as it gives proper time to concentrate on boxing.

He said: "I have mixed and matched for this fight and 'Flutey' is really pushing me through. I have really felt the benefits, you have got to be happy where you are training and because we work together that helps as well.

"Physically I have always been fit but it's mentally, everything in your lifestyle needs to be going right."

Welborn is stepping up from welterweight to face Clark and feels as if there is more meat in his punches through the extra pounds.

And with two knockouts on a four-fight record, that could spell trouble for his opponent.

He said: "I have heard this lad comes to fight and is game, but I am training hard for this and everyone is telling me I am working more off my jab, I used to just walk through and rely on my power but I am boxing more now.

"It's all coming together and it's the best I have felt since I turned pro."

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

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