Steve Gethin's Midlands title rematch

Walsall featherweight Steve Gethin is to get a second chance at taking the Midlands title from reigning champion Del Rogers.

A mooted English title fight between Rogers and Cradley's Chris Male will not happen before 2011, after Male confirmed he will not return from a broken hand by the end of the year.

So Gethin will face Rogers for the area title at Birmingham's Holiday Inn on December 6, the same venue where the two first clashed in February.

It was Rogers who took the belt after Gethin was cut in the fourth round, with the beaten challenger insistent to this day the fight should have been allowed to go on.

But the 32-year-old will get his chance of revenge and admits it has come as a surprise.

He said: "I wasn't expecting a rematch, because they said they were not going to take it, but now they have come back and changed their mind.

"We asked for it ages ago, it's probably my last chance at a title and he's the favourite, I know that.

"But I was taking my time the last time we met, I won't be doing that this time.

"I will be looking to take him out as soon as possible."

Male has been out of action since June, after breaking his hand in two places with the punch that dropped Liam Richards on route to claiming his first belt, the British Masters title.

The vacant English title is the preferred step up for his comeback fight but the 28-year-old is still the top contender to the area crown, after winning an eliminator last year.

But the punching postman was only allowed back on the pads a month ago, hasn't sparred at all and will take some time to get ready for a fight.

His recovery has taken much longer than expected and Male is anxious to ensure that nothing else can peg him back, so has ruled out fighting again this year.

'The Male Man' has targeted late January or early February for his return.

He said: "I am dying to get back into the ring but I have had to be safe rather than sorry, all it would taken was for me to hit someone the wrong way and my hand would have been a right mess again.

"But I have been given the green light to start punching properly again and, when I can confident my power is back, I will start full training.

"And, when I am fully fit, I will fight anybody, because I believe I am the best featherweight in this country."