STUEY HALL will be bidding to win a Lonsdale belt for keeps when he returns to action on April 9.
The popular Darlington fighter (10-0-1) will make the third defence of his British bantamweight title against John Donnelly at Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring on Saturday April 9.
Hall, 31, shocked Ian Napa last June to become domestic king and showed great promise in subsequent defences against former champions Martin Power and Gary Davies.
A few years ago Hall was living a playboy life in Ibiza after growing disillusioned with amateur boxing, but regained his appetite after joining trainer Michael Marsden.
He said: “It is just down to hard dedication and Mick. I went off one life and come onto another.
“Mick has changed my life. I got lucky meeting him and he is one of the most straight up persons you’ll ever meet. He is a really nice bloke and knows so much.
“I turned pro and spoke about a Lonsdale belt. That became the target and nothing else mattered.
“Mick was able to give me one-to-one attention and so much of my success is down to him.”
Liverpool’s Donnelly, 26, has been beaten just once in 13 fights and will start an underdog, but he and trainer Dave Tonks are confident of causing an upset.
The battle of the little big men will be screened live by Sky Sports and is expected to draw a 2000 sell-out crowd.
Tickets priced £30 and £65 are available0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com