PROFESSIONAL boxing is returning to Preston next week with a seven fight bill at the Guild Hall featuring some the region's most promising young pro-boxers.

Topping the bill on Friday, November 16 will be local boys, heavyweight Paul Buttery who is pitted against Blackpool based Shane McClaren, and light middleweight Tony Byrns.

It is the first time for nearly a decade that pro-boxing has been staged at the venue but organisers Star Promotions are confident it will be popular and promise more such events if it a success.

Paul Buttery, aged 23, has already been tipped for the top and is backed by Liverpool manager Brendan Devine.

He said: "Paul has all the qualities to make it all the way to the top. He's a very exciting prospect and I've showed it by putting my money were my mouth is and investing a lot of money in him!

"He's a smashing lad with the right attitude and he learns quickly.

"It's great to see boxing back here because Preston is a boxing town and we are hoping for a sell-out crowd."

Paul added: "I want to show the crowd what I can do. There were fireworks On November 5 and there will be more fireworks on the night of the fight. Unusually for a boxer Paul is university educated but has committed himself to the sport by giving up his job with an engineering company in is determination to get to the top. "I was getting up at 5.30am to train and the then going to work and getting home at 9pm so it's great be able to devote more time to my boxing now I am professional." Also fighting will be Wigan middleweight Lee Blundell, Blackpool cruiserweight Paul Richardson, Terry Ham from Manchester and Lancaster's Lee Woodruff. Tickets are £12 for under 14s, and £20 for adults with ringside seats ranging from £35 to £50 for a front row ring side seat. Ring the Guild Hall box office for tickets on 01772 617710.