Wolverhampton boxing star set for British title bout live on the BBC

The 23-year-old featherweight will face Rhys Edwards at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on April 4 in a long-anticipated clash for the vacant Lonsdale belt.

Powar has been waiting patiently for the contest since it was first ordered by British Boxing’s board of control last August, with the original date having been put back due to his Welsh opponent suffering injury.

But they are now finally set to meet on the undercard of Lauren Price’s world welterweight title defence against Stephanie Pineiro Aquino.

Powar, trained by Richard Carter at Wolverhampton ABC, won his first 13 professional bouts before losing on points to Mexico’s Brandon Mosqueda in last year’s WBC Grand Prix event in Saudi Arabia.

Yet the manner of that defeat, against a fighter who went on to win the entire tournament, only enhanced his reputation and paved the way to a British title shot.

Edwards, the senior man by two years, has been beaten only once in 18 pro bouts.

Both fighters now have the chance to send their stock soaring higher with the bout, promoted by Boxxer, due to be broadcast live on BBC Two.

"This is a fantastic British title fight between two young, hungry fighters,” said Boxxer founder, Ben Shalom.

April is shaping up to be a busy month for Midlands fighters with Darlaston’s Ben Whittaker on course to make his US debut.

Whittaker was in New York over the weekend for promotional work around Shakur Stevenson’s WBO light-welterweight win over Teofimo Lopez. 

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has hinted Whittaker could feature on the undercard of US welterweight star Jarron Ennis’ next headline show, expected to be in April.