LYON GETS WALE IN FIRST DEFENCE

Craig Lyon is scheduled to defend his English bantamweight title against Prizefighter runner-up Josh Wale at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium on Saturday 26th February.
 Stephen Foster Jr tops the card defending his European super-featherweight title against Belgium’s Ermano Fegatilli - but the pocket sized chief support already stands out as a possible show-stealer according to promoter Ricky Hatton.
 Unbeaten Lyon, 29, won the English title belt last October when Sheffield's outgunned Ross Burkinshaw was pulled out by his corner after five rounds.
 That win stretched the former stand-out amateur's unbeaten record to 12 wins, and the St Helens man will again start as the betting favourite against Wale in their scheduled 10-rounder.

Craig Lyon makes the first defence of his
English title against Josh Wale

 Barnsley boy Wale fell at the final hurdle in the Prizefighter Super-bantamweight tournament nine months ago, losing a semi-final split decision to Willie Casey who then went on to win the event and next month challenges for the world title.
 And even though Wale enters the ring on the back of a solid points win over Yoan Boyeaux, in-form Lyon should prove far too strong for the Yorkshireman.
 However, promoter Ricky Hatton still believes the match-up will be a real crowd-pleaser.
 "This will be a thriller and might even steal the show. What excites me even more that we have two genuine prospects looking to fight the best and not avoid tough contests," says Hatton.
 "This is the sort of contest that will launch a career and TV viewers on the night are in for a lot of excitement."
* Tickets for the Hatton Promotions card are available by calling 0844 847 2500 or 0161 775 7500.

NICK PEET