CRAWLEY'S Michael Alldis has been lined up to make at third defence of his British super-bantamweight title against Stephen Oates at Wembley Conference Centre on April 7.
The showdown will not be confirmed until later next week but sources close to Alldis revealed Oates is the man he is most likely to be facing.
Promoters Matchroom and the British Board of Control have struggled to find a suitable opponent for the 32-year-old Sussex fighter.
There is a dearth of talent in the super-bantamweight division with Alldis having already faced and beaten the best of them.
Irishman Tommy Waite and Nottingham's Kevin Gerowski are seen as acceptable challengers but their eliminator bout has still not taken place.
Oates is really a bantamweight and the Fulham fighter has a professional record of 13 wins and two defeats.
Negotiations with Oates are said to be "well advanced" and an announcement is expected in the next few days.
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