Jason Welborn is ready to put friendship aside as he looks to bounce back from a shock defeat and win the Midlands Area Super Welterweight Title outright.

The two-time British Title challenger suffered a surprise points loss to William Warburton in May, at welterweight, which convinced him that his future lay in the super welterweight division.

Welborn will defend his area title against former amateur team-mate and friend, Craig Cunningham, at the International Futsal Arena, Hockley, on Saturday, 16th July.

“It’s a showdown we both need,” he told www.uko-boxing.com. “I’m coming off a loss and need a name to bounce straight back against and Craig is stepping down a weight and is an up and coming boxer.

“I’ve had some big fights at this weight – against the likes of Liam Smith and Matt Macklin – but thought I could maintain at welterweight where I was chasing some other big fights.

“I knocked out a foreign opponent in a round in April so took another fight, against Warburton, a few weeks later. It showed me that I’m not a welterweight now. I’m 30 and I just can’t maintain at 147 lbs. I felt drained and flat. No excuses, I just wasn’t right.”

Welborn and Cunningham crossed paths at Walmley ABC and have remained friendly ever since. Both holding area titles, Cunningham has relinquished his middleweight strap to test himself in the super welterweight division.

Having already seen off local challenges from the likes of Terry Carruthers and Ryan Aston, Welborn is confident of holding onto his strap when the pair lock horns in Hockley next month.

“I know Craig well and he’s a nice lad,” Welborn admitted. “He’s a good boxer and I like him as a person but he’s coming for my belt and he’s not going to have it. I’ve trained too hard over the years to let it go. This fight can push me back up the rankings and put me back on track.

“I’ve been in some with good fighters and I’ve fought a lot of south paws. I know Craig’s style and what he does well and not so well so if he beats me, there will be no excuses. I’ll shake his hand, but I just don’t see it happening.

“I took the title off Terry Carruthers in Birmingham, on the road, and I defended it against Ryan Aston in his back yard and beat him too. I’ve got no problem going into Craig’s back yard and expect to come out on top. The win will see me win the belt outright which is something I can look back on.”

Tickets for the show can be purchased by calling 07540 990 166.