DARLINGTON'S world champion Stuart Hall looks certain to face hugely talented American Randy Caballero when he aims to defend his IBF bantamweight crown in the summer.

Caballero stopped dangerous Japanese fighter Kohei Oba inside eight rounds in Kobe on Friday night in an official eliminator for Hall's IBF belt.

Now the South Californian boxer, who has won 21 fights without defeat including 13 stoppages, is expecting to be heading over to the North-East on June 7 to challenge the County Durham champion.

Oba was not an easy opponent after he had won his previous six contests in a row to raise hope of a world title shot. Caballero, just 23, had too much quality though and now Hall will have to stop him.

Hall, 34, is being lined up for his second defence of his title after his first ended in a technical draw when Martin Ward suffered a serious cut above his right eye following an accidental clash of heads.

If Caballero does emerge as Hall's next opponent the bout will almost certainly take place at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.