STUART HALL has plans to bring the world title back to the North-East in the summer after successfully edging towards a rematch with old foe and current IBF bantamweight champion Lee Haskins.

Hall and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn have both admitted he will challenge Haskins for the belt he ceded to Paul Butler almost two years ago – provided the reigning champ defends his crown next month.

It will be the first defence of the crown for Bristol’s Haskins when he faces Mexico’s Ivan Morales at the Cardiff Ice Rink on May 14 and Hall is desperate to get his hands on it once more.

The Darlington fighter has put it firmly in his sights having edged out Rodrigo Guerrero in the title eliminator at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on Saturday night.

Hall said: “I want Lee to win because he is from England. He is an awkward fighter. I fought him four and a half years ago and lost that night.

“I am different fighter now. He might think it is an easy fight but that was my world title fight out there against Guerrero. Lee, I am coming for you.”

Haskins defeated Hall in 2012 when the pair went toe-to-toe for the European strap and is desperate for revenge having proven to himself he still deserves to be at the highest level.

Despite turning 36 in February, he displayed his quality in the ring by emerging from a non-stop 12-round contest with Guerrero with a unanimous points victory; all three judges scored the bout 117-111 in his favour.

The South American played his part in the contest and battled back to threaten Hall in the closing stages, but victory was a credit to Hall after spending the whole of 2015 embroiled in out-of-the-ring contract arguments rather than fighting in the ring.

Hall, who switched his training to Birmingham in the build up to the fight, said: “It means everything. The last round I couldn’t breathe, I could hardly stand up because he hit me with some body shots. Fair play and I am still hurting.

“I thought I’d done enough early on but he came back in. Everyone knows I like a brawl and I had to go for it even though I was being told not to by my corner.”

A couple of clashes of heads increased the tension between the two fighters on Saturday night in Leeds, with Guerrero forced to receive treatment regularly on a cut sustained during that opening period.

But Guerrero’s annoyance made it harder for Hall because his opponent kept coming back and seemed intent on making him pay for the cut. In the end, though, Hall had too much for him and now all eyes on Haskins.

Matchroom promoter Hearn said: “I have massive respect to both guys. I don’t think the judges gave enough respect to Guerrero because I only had Stu by one or two rounds.

“Credit to both. Stu will go on and fight Lee Haskins. Lee will have to fight within 90 days of his fight in the middle of May, so Stu will get another shot at a world title. He deserves it because he is a credit to the sport.”