FORMER IBF bantamweight world champion Stuart Hall returns to the ring tomorrow [August 1] in the hope of chasing down a rematch with current WBA champion Jamie McDonnell.
McDonnell outpointed Hall over 12 thrilling rounds in 2011 and both men went on to win world titles – McDonnell picked up the IBF strap and Hall then won it against Vusi Malinga after McDonnell was stripped.
Jamie then went on to win the WBA strap while Hall lost his title to Randy Caballero in his last outing in October of last year, but has now teamed up with McDonnell’s promoter Eddie Hearn to try and lure his countryman back into the ring with him.
“That’s the fight I’ve always wanted, with Jamie McDonnell but every time we get close to him, he pulls away again but he’s had some fantastic wins,” he told Boxing News.
“I just need to get a couple of good wins under my belt and then we can try and make that fight.
“He’s done absolutely fantastically, Jamie McDonnell and I wish him all the best but I’ll keep chasing him down as much as I can.
“He’s a top lad, Jamie, but it’s business and I think a fight between us would be great and obviously I want a rematch because the first one was a beauty and with the both of us getting more experience now I think it would be an absolute barnstormer.”
Hall will fight Nicaraguan Edwin Tellez, who Josh Warrington stopped in five rounds in February, at the KC Lightstream Stadium in Hull on the Luke Campbell-Tommy Coyle undercard.
It emerged yesterday that a deal was made for Caballero to face his mandatory challenger, Lee Haskins, who beat Hall in 2012, and ‘Stuey’ stated he would be interested in fighting the winner in the future.
Hall also confirmed he will be working with Hearn moving ahead, having broken ties with former promoter Dennis Hobson, making a fight with McDonnell all the more easier to make.
Although he was a late addition to tomorrow’s card, Hall has been keeping himself in shape ready for an opportunity to present itself.
“I’ve been training, working towards getting on this show for a while and Eddie Hearn’s done me a massive favour getting me on it, I’m over the moon,” he said.
“He’s going to be coming to fight but I’m just looking to get back in there, I’ve missed this buzz.
“I’ve been down in Birmingham for the last 10 weeks, away from my family, my pregnant wife, putting all the hard work in and I’m as hungry as ever.
“I’ve just been staying positive, hoping something will come up, keeping in the gym. I’ve been getting some really good sparring with Gamal and Kal Yafai, Louis Norman so I’m not ring rusty, I’m just looking forward to get in there and getting the job done.”