Boxer Graham Earl will go head-to-head with Southam-pton-born fighter Henry Castle in Bethnal Green on Friday, October 17.

Castle, 29, whose pro record stands at 18 wins, including 10 stoppages and four defeats from from his 18 fights, while Earl, also 29, boasts 25 wins (12 KOs) and just three defeats from his 28 career fights so far.

The Lutonian has yet to step into the ring in 2008 after his scheduled bout with Scot Willie Limond earlier this year was first postponed because of a hand injury sustained by Earl, before Limond shunned a re-arranged bout, in favour of a dream fight at Madison Square Garden which, has also been put on hold.

But, ahead of the upcoming 10-rounder against Castle, Earl said: "It's one I need to win to obviously show I'm still there.

"If I lose, it's definitely the end of the road for me, so this is my way of showing Frank Moloney and everyone else out there that I'm not finished yet. We fought years ago as amateurs, I beat him then and I'm confident I'll beat him again.

"I'll hope to push for a title beyond the fight. I'm not sure which one, whether it be British, Commonwealth or even European and then go from there. This is the start of the road back."

The fight is set to take place at Bethnal Green's York Hall, although the exact venue has yet to be confirmed.