A bruised and battered Munroe after defeat against Nishioka in October

Rendall Munroe will return to the ring in April for his first fight since world title heartache last year.

Munroe, 30, lost on points to Toshiaki Nishioka in the WBC super-bantamweight title contest in Japan last October.

The Leicester star faces a non-title eight-round bout with a yet-to-be-named opponent at Houghton-le-Spring's Rainton Meadows Arena on 9 April.

British bantamweight champion Stuey Hall fights Liverpool's John Donnelly aiming to win a Lonsdale belt outright.

Darlington fighter Hall, 31, successfully defended his British title against Gary Davies in November last year, while Donnelly, 26, won his last outing against Andy Bell last May.

Munroe's promoter Frank Maloney said: "The European title is vacant right now, but if Rendall wins in April I hope that he will be made official challenger.

"Rendall proved he belonged in world class against Nishioka who is a very good champion and the WBC has kept him in their top five.

"I have no doubt that if Rendall can get another three good wins he will be get another world title fight."

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