TWO of the region's hottest boxing talents will headline a show at the Metro Radio Arena this summer and Darlington's former world champion Stuart Hall will be in the ring too.

Lewis Ritson will defend his British Lightweight title against Paul Hyland Jr and Josh Kelly is to challenge Commonwealth Welterweight champion Kris George on a bumper bill in Newcastle on June 16, live on Sky Sports.

Ritson will aim to capture the coveted Lonsdale belt for keeps in what has been a stunning reign as British ruler, landing the crown in October by stopping Robbie Barrett, before the Newcastle ace enjoyed a first round demolition of Joe Murray in February.

He then came out on top in a two-round shootout with former champion Scotty Cardle at The O2 in March.

Hyland Jr is the mandatory challenger for Ritson’s title.

Ritson said: “It's been a rollercoaster from the Barrett fight to now, three good performances and hopefully a fourth to come in front of my home fans.

"Paul is unbeaten and he's definitely my toughest test to date. But I'll be ready with my great team behind me, he's confident and so am I, our styles will gel so that should make for a great fight for the fans.

"I want to go all the way to the top. You need a bit of luck in this game but hopefully I can get past Paul, who is a good fighter and one that I am not looking beyond.”

Kelly landed his first pro title at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, beating former IBF World champion Carlos Molina to claim the WBA International Welterweight title in just his sixth pro fight.

The Team GB Rio Olympian is one of the hottest properties in world boxing and the Sunderland star now aims to bag his second strap against Australian George, who makes the second defence of the title he landed in November 2016.

Kelly: “It’s great to be fighting on a massive bill in the North-East. When you are from here, you are fighting from day one, you don't get the big opportunities that there are elsewhere so it's great to bring the boxing back.

"Lewis and I are doing great things and I know the other North-East boys on the bill are going to entertain so I can't wait for a big night and the first of many here.

"Boxing brings the area together, I can't see the crowd being split, the fans are going to get behind us all and big-time boxing hasn't been up here for a while and I feel now it's the time to bring it back and the place is going to go off on June 16.”

There’s a stellar card in support of co-headliners as former champion Hall challenges former world title challenger Gavin McDonnell for the WBC International Super-Bantamweight title.

Hall has been chasing a rematch with McDonnell’s twin brother Jamie after falling to the Doncaster man in 2011, two years before he landed the IBF World Bantamweight title. There’s added spice to the fight as Darlington’s Hall also looks to gain revenge for gym-mate Gamal Yafai who McDonnell beat in a career-best performance in Sheffield in March to land the title he defends in Newcastle.

Hall said: “When the fight was mentioned I thought 'I've been chasing Jamie for years so this might be the closest I get to a rematch' so I jumped at the chance.

"Gavin and I know each other and we're quite friendly really, we know what each other is about. Gavin's on a great run, he just had a good win over my gym-mate Gamal Yafai and I think I have got the tools to beat him in a great fight.

"I think Super-Bantamweight is really going to suit me. In the Paul Butler fight I did a lot of things wrong, it's mad to say that I've been in the game this long and I am still learning things. I've changed a few things and let's see if it works on the night.”

Another former world title challenger in Surrey’s Charlie Edwards faces an important meeting against South Shields’ Anthony Nelson for the vacant WBA Continental Super-Flyweight title, while Middlesbrough’s Simon Vallily takes on English Cruiserweight champion Derby’s Arfan Iqbal.

  • Tickets are on sale to Matchroom Fight Pass members now priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 VIP at stubhub.co.uk
  • Tickets go on general sale from the Metro Arena at metroarenaonline.co.uk, on 0844 493 6666 or in person from the Metro Radio Arena Box Office. Please note venue facility and booking fees will apply.