Professional boxing returns to Darlington after an absence of six years tonight with two of the town's most promising boxers bidding to make it a double success.

Andy Vickers tops the bill in his bout against Sheffield's Keith Palmer at the Dolphin Centre while Michael Hall bids to maintain his 100 per cent record with a 15th win.

Vickers fights at middleweight and since turning pro. 18 months ago has lost just twice although he bitterly disputes one of the defeats which took place at the hands of Chris Cook in Sunderland at the beginning of the year.

"I knocked the lad down three times but he still got the decision," he said.

Vickers is expected to receive good vocal backing as he bids to make his ninth fight a seventh win.

Hall, who is trained by Prince Naseem's ex-coach Brendan Ingle, says he's in great shape ahead of tonight's light-welterweight clash with Dean Nicholas of South Shields having spent a week of intensive training in Gran Canaria recently in preparation for the fight.

During the week he sparred with stable-mates Johnny Nelson, who is the WBO World Cruiserweight Champion, and Junior Witter who has held a world title and fought on the Mike Tyson bill in Glasgow during the summer.

"Gran Canaria was brilliant. The facilities there and the weather was fantastic," he said. "Because of the heat it makes your lungs work 30 per cent harder and we were doing three sessions a day - running at half-past six in the morning because it's not as warm then!

"I'm probably in the best condition I've ever been in for a professional fight.

"I'm not really bothered who I'm fighting. I might ask on the day and I'll be told who he is, what he likes to do and what he's all about but all that doesn't bother me.

"I just leave the matchmaking up to somebody else and as long as he's at my weight I'm not bothered who it is because I know I'm good enough."

Hall, who is nicknamed the Quaker-Breaker and wears the colours of Darlington FC, racked-up his latest win against Ram Singh in Derby three weeks ago.

"It went well down there, it was easy," he said. "I controlled the pace of the fight and took the rounds. I just got the rounds in really, in preparation for this fight."

Training in Sheffield since 1997 under the guidance of Ingle, Hall has steadily built up a string of victories and his coach said earlier this year that his protg will soon be in contention for a title bout.

Also in action tonight are super-middleweight Reece McAllister of Newton Aycliffe, Hartlepool featherweight Michael Hunter and super-middleweight Ian Cooper (Hartlepool) who is unbeaten in four fights.

l There are a limited number of tickets available which starts at 7.30pm. They cost £20, £25 and £35 and are available from the leisure centre on (01325) 388406 or Mike Guest on 07818 032578