JUST weeks after seeing one English title defence shelved, Joe Hughes has secured another contest where the Malmesbury champion will put his belt on the line.

Last month, Hughes had to settle for a fight against inexperienced Czech teenager Tomas Bartunek in Swindon, which lasted just a round, after his scheduled English super-lightweight title defence against Glenn Foot fell through.

But the 25-year-old (13-1) is now set to be challenged for his St George’s strap by the unbeaten Anthony Upton (11-0) on an Erroll Johnson-promoted show at Walsall Town Hall on Saturday, December 5.

Hughes, who got his hands on the English title with victory over Anthony Hardy in Bath in July, will be up against a fighter that only went eight rounds for the first time on October 10 when he outpointed Melksham’s Liam Richards.

Upton, 23, who is trained by former world champion Ricky Hatton, will be the fourth unbeaten opponent Malmesbury’s Hughes has faced in his career.