LOCAL trainer Kevin Maree hopes to arrange a boxing show at King George’s Hall next month to showcase Blackburn’s new professionals Haidher Riaz and Qasim Niaz.

Riaz and Niaz are both trained by Maree at the Stirk House gym in Gisburn and secured points victories on their pro debuts on Saturday night at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.

The duo both had a sizeable following for their first bouts and Maree now wants to increase that fanbase by holding their second professional fights at King George’s Hall.

“They had a lot of support on Saturday so I’m looking to try to arrange something at the end of November in Blackburn now,” he said.

“I’m going to be speaking to the people at King George’s Hall to see if we can arrange a show.”

Stirk House stablemate Luke Blackledge, left, will fight Paul Smith for the British super middleweight title at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on December 7.

The Accrington man won a four-round warm-up fight on Saturday and is similarly building support ahead of his title bid.

“We’re selling tickets at the gym and we’ve already sold 250,” Maree said.

“Until now Luke has been working on strength so he had his run-out on Saturday without any sparring, because 10 weeks out is too early to do sparring. He could end up getting an injury.

“But with eight weeks to go we can start sparring and working on the boxing side of things.

“That is what Luke enjoys more than the weights, he liked going into the ring and hitting people.

“We’ve got three fighters lined up to spar Luke which I’ll keep secret until after the fight but I’m really pleased with them.

“They will help him to prepare well.”