Edwards tops the Bill in Stoke-on-Trent

CHRIS EDWARDS has been given a double boost at the expense of unlucky Ian Napa. Stoke-on-Trent warrior Chris, 32, will now top the bill in his hometown at Fenton Manor Sports Complex on Friday January 23 when he challenges Wayne Bloy (5-3-1) for the vacant British flyweight championship. Their exciting match-up will now be a double title battle with the vacant Commonwealth crown also on the line. Londoner Napa was meant to headline the Potteries card, but went down with a severe bout of flu over Christmas and has been forced to withdraw from his European bantamweight title defence. Promoter Frank Maloney: "My partners on the show from Impact Boxing tell me Stoke is sleeping giant for boxing. "Here is the perfect opportunity for them to get behind their man and roar him to a famous victory. "No domestic flyweight has dominated at home for years and Chris (11-13-3) has the perfect chance here. "If he wins impressively and the locals get behind him we can build boxing in the area around him. It is a chance he must grab with both hands. "The way Staffordshire people have got behind the Stoke City this season shows how passionate the people are. The fans at the Britannia Stadium are like an extra player." With Napa injured Maloney and Impact Boxing have added a magnificent final eliminator for the Commonwealth welterweight title to the bill. Manchester's wildly exciting Mark Thompson (18-1) will face Ghanaian southpaw Philip Kotey (19-4). Current welterweight champion Craig Watson must face the winner by June 30 or be stripped. Maloney added: Mark's manager and co-promoter Steve Wood keeps telling me his man deserves a fight with Watson. He is now one win away." Another great fight on the bill sees the show's co-promoter Scott Lawton (25-4-1) make the first defence of his English lightweight title against Salisbury's Henry Castle (19-4). Tickets for 'Stoking the Fire' are priced £35 and £70. They can be obtained from www.frankmaloney.com or 0871 226 1508