Featherweight hot-shot Stephen Smith will kick off the new boxing season by headlining the Liverpool Olympia show on Saturday, 17th September - after replacing Tony Bellew as the main event.
Smith, one of Britain's fast rising stars and heavily tipped as a future Scouse world champion, makes the first defence of the British title and will also put his Commonwealth belt on the line against Welshman Lee Selby, live on Sky Sports.
However, the bill was originally due to be headlined by city favourite 'Bomber' Bellew, defending his British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight straps against Sheffield's Paul David. That match-up has been ditched, which raises questions as to whether Bellew will instead challenge Nathan Cleverly for the world title.
Both Bellew and promoter Frank Warren are yet to release statements today, but expect more news on that front inside the next week.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Smith had to dig deep in order to beat John Simpson in their rematch in April to claim the prestigious Lonsdale belt and become the first Merseysider to hold the title since Gary Thornhill over a decade ago.
His next opponent, Selby, from Barry, won the Celtic title last month with a sixth round stoppage of Scotsman James Ancliff, but steps up a number of levels against the former Rotunda club England star.
"I can't wait to get back in the ring as British and Commonwealth champion and defend my titles," said Smith today.
He added, "I've got so many ambitions in my career; one is to win the Lonsdale belt outright as I would love to own one of my own; I also want the European title to complete the set and I want the ultimate which is a world title.
"First I've got to deal with Selby who is a tough first defence and I was really impressed with his win over Ancliff, but he stepping up to a new league against me and he'll know it on the night."
Stephen's older brother Paul, the former British super-middleweight champion, continues his comeback on the card in an eight rounder against Bristol's Danny Butler; while the third of the four brothers, Liam, will feature in six-round contest as he aims to put a shaky patch behind him and get his aspirations back on track.
The hugely popular super-middleweight Rocky Fielding, the record-breaking Prizefighter winner, is back in action as well as light-middleweight talent Joe Selkirk, who stopped being Liverpool's best kept secret with his first round destruction of game Terry Carruthers in his last fight.
Former amateur star Paul Butler from Ellesmere Port, currently unbeaten in three fights, features in a four-round super-flyweight contest comleting a strong Scouse theme at the West Derby Road venue.
Tickets, priced at £30, £40 and £60 are available from the Liverpool Olympia Box Office on 0151 263 6633, online at www.liverpoololympia.com or www.frankwarren.tv