Wayne Alexander's long awaited showdown with Anthony Farnell could go ahead in Manchester this summer with the WBU world middleweight title up for grabs.

Hailsham-based Alexander warmed up for his own shot at the WBO interim middleweight crown with a comfortable points win over Victor Fessechko in Preston on Saturday.

Afterwards he was told he is likely to be fighting Farnell at Maine Road in July as chief support to Ricky Hatton's WBU light-welterweight title defence against Junior Witter.

There has been a bitter war of words between Alexander and Farnell for some time. Both are managed by Frank Warren and it appears the promoter now wants to get them together in the ring.

Farnell made a successful first defence of his WBU title on Saturday but Alexander, stepping up from light-middleweight where he held both the British and European titles, was equally impressive in his non-title six rounder against Fessechko.

He had the Ukrainian down twice in the second round, first with an overhand right and then with a left hook, and used the rest of the contest to get rounds under his belt after a year out of the ring.

Alexander will now fight Argentinian Hector Javier Velazoo for the interim WBO title in March. Details are still to be confirmed but it seems likely to take place in Glasgow on March 22 as chief support to the Scott Harrison-Wayne McCullough showdown for the WBO featherweight title.

The winner of the Alexander-Velazoo fight will be upgraded to full WBO world champion providing current champion Harry Simon, who is facing possible homicide charges after a car accident which left a family dead, cannot defend his crown by June 30.

That would mean Farnell and Alexander could be scrapping it out for both the WBU and WBO titles.