STUART HALL has challenged Lee Haskins to an all-British world-title showdown at the start of next year – and is confident he would turn the tables on the new IBF World Bantamweight belt holder.

Haskins inherited the world title last weekend when his scheduled opponent, Randy Caballero, failed to make the weight for the pair’s fight in Las Vegas.

Hall lost the IBF crown when he was beaten by Caballero in an explosive contest in Monte Carlo last October, and previously lost on points to Haskins in a European title fight in the summer of 2012.

However, he retains a spot in the top five of the IBF bantamweight rankings, and with Haskins set to select a voluntary opponent for his first world-title defence, Hall is calling for a rematch at the start of 2016.

“He’ll be looking around in the top 15 for someone to fight, and I’m still right up there in the rankings,” said the Darlington fighter. “He said he played with me the last time – well let’s see if he fancies playing with me again.

“Hopefully, I’ll get a shot at him next, and if I do, there’s only going to be one winner. I didn’t fight for the first four or five rounds last time we met, and after that, I thought I was more than a match for him.

“I’ve won world titles and all sorts since then. I’m a completely different fighter now, and if he’s willing to take me on, I’d end up being a world champion again.

“I’ve been fairly quiet since the Caballero fight, so maybe he’ll look at me and think I’m a bit of an easy option. I hope he does because it’ll give me a world-title shot, and then I’ll give him the shock of his life.

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“People talk about my age, but even though I’m 35, I still haven’t got many miles on the clock. I’m training as hard as ever, and I’m knocking out lads who are ten years younger than me, so I certainly wouldn’t be worried about Haskins.”

Haskins’ manager, Chris Sanigar, is keen to set up another fight in the United States, and has talked of a potential unification bout with WBC champion Shinsuke Yamanaka.

Having been unable to enter the ring last weekend, however, Haskins remains an unknown quantity in the US, and the leading Stateside promoters might regard him as an unappealing prospect in terms of generating a pay-per-view audience.

Such a scenario might make a domestic world showdown more appealing, with Hall claiming Haskins is fortunate to have a world title to his name in the first place.

“If Caballero had been able to fight, he would have knocked him out,” said Hall. “If Caballero had produced even half of the form he showed against me, it would have been good enough for him to walk all over Haskins.

“I’d stop Haskins because I wouldn’t be starting at round five this time, I’d be starting at round one. I’m ready for a big 12 months in 2016 – let’s see if Haskins is ready to take me on.”

Hall has been keeping himself ticking over with outings under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner in the last few months, and he claimed his third victory since the Caballero defeat last weekend when he secured a unanimous points victory over Argentinian Elvis Guillen in Manchester’s MEN Arena.

Hall won all eight rounds against the durable South American, but will not be taking on similar contests in the New Year as he looks to get back to world level.

“I needed a couple of fights to get me back into things, but I’ve had them now,” he said. “It’s time to kick on again, and that’s what I’ll be looking to do in the New Year.

“I’ve just had a little boy (Jax) three weeks ago, and with the greatest of respect to the lads I’ve been in against, it’s not worth me spending months away from my family just to get another easy win over eight rounds.

“I need to be taking on better opposition now, and I think we all know that. But the good thing about the last few months is that it’s got me into the best shape I’ve been in for years.

“It’s been great working with Paddy (Lynch), and Rob McCracken (the head coach for GB’s amateur team) has also been helping me behind the scenes. I’ve got a really good team together now, and I’m just looking for the right calibre of opponent to fight.”