Elcock successfully defended his British title in June last year

Wayne Elcock will defend his British middleweight title against fellow Birmingham fighter Matthew Macklin at the Aston Arena on 14 March.

Elcock, 33, has held the British title since defeating Howard Eastman in 2007.

"There hasn't been a fight like this in Birmingham between two top-rated Brummies for as far back as I can remember," said Elcock.

"This is what Birmingham and British boxing needs - two top fighters squaring off against each other."

Elcock is a former IBF world title challenger, having lost to Germany's Arthur Abraham in December 2007.

606: DEBATE Give your views on the all-Birmingham match-up

He successfully defended his British title with a controversial second-round stoppage against Darren McDermott in June last year.

For Macklin the fight sees him continue his rehabilitation following his brutal British light-middleweight title defeat by Jamie Moore in 2006.

"He said he's going to knock me out but he was saying that sort of thing before he fought Jamie Moore and look what happened then," said Elcock.

"My phone is off the hook at the moment because there's so much interest in it. It's going to be a cracking atmosphere on the night and a cracking fight."

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