ROWLEY Regis light middleweight Jason Welborn says he can't wait to take on former world title challenger Matthew Macklin.

It was announced this week that the pair will do battle at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena on October 17.

Their contest will be in support of a match-up between Stourbridge's Sam Eggington and Frankie Gavin in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Macklin is moving down to light middleweight for the clash - a second hometown fight in quick succession for the world-rated 33-year-old following his second round knockout win in May, and he warms up for the bout with a fight in Spain next weekend.

It’s a golden opportunity for Welborn having climbed off the canvas to beat Dudley's Ryan Aston in their meeting for the Midlands Area Light Middleweight crown in June.

He said: "It is a great fight and is just what I want. I want to be taking on big names in big fights and winning big belts.

"I have a confidence in my ability to cause him problems. He has had a lot of hard fights over the years so I'll hopefully be too much for him at this stage.

"But he will be just as determined because he wants to get back up there himself, so it has the makings of a really good fight.

"I feel I have been rewarded for taking the Aston fight, which was a big risk for me. It was my fifth defence of the area title and a fight I didn't really have to take.

"The fans wanted to see it, I got the job done and have now got a fight I'm really looking forward to.

"Now I have a fight that is worth my while and could really open doors for me. More big names, as well as British and Commonwealth title shots, could all follow."

A battle with Eggington had been originally mooted for Welborn before both men took on different opposition. The clash stalled due to questions about Welborn stepping down a weight class.

Eggington will instead put his British, Commonwealth and WBC International Silver Welterweight titles on the line against Gavin, who goes straight back into championship action following his world title clash with Kell Brook in May.

Stourbridge star Eggington has been on fire in the last year, with impressive wins over Denton Vassell, Shayne Singleton, Joseph Lamptey and Glenn Foot leading to ‘The Savage’ picking up the titles he now defends in the main event.

There’s a stacked bill in support that also sees unbeaten super flyweight star Kal Yafai face Jason Cunningham for the vacant British title while his brother Gamal Yafai continues his progression in the paid ranks.

The Midlands Area belt is on the line between Halesowen middleweight Lennox Clarke and Craig Cunningham as well as outings for Corry Gibbs, Zack Parker and Dan Breeze.