Thomas Essomba will return to the ring for the first time in 12 months when he fights Louis Norman in Leicester.
The Sunderland flyweight takes on the Leicestershire prospect over six rounds at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, March 3.
Essomba has not fought since February 2017 when he relinquished his Commonwealth title to unbeaten Welshman Jay Harris at the York Hall.
It was the 30-year-old’s second successive defeat, having lost to Iain Butcher in Edinburgh in a non-title 10 rounder in May 2016.
Essomba had won his first seven bouts since making Wearside his home, the highlight being a thumping Commonwealth title victory over undefeated Yorkshireman Waleed Din in Rotherham in late 2015.
Promoter Phil Jeffries who had guided the career of the two-time Olympian, in both the amateur and professional rings, had hoped to make the Cameroon international into Sunderland’s first world champion.
Jaffa had taken him under his wing since the talented African had claimed asylum in the UK after representing his country at the 2012 Olympics in London.
The Wearside fight figure admitted after the unanimous points set-back with Harris that it was going to be “awkward” to plot his future.
Jeffries told the Sunderland Echo: “I haven’t got a clue what to do with him … he can’t fight for the English, British or European titles.
“He’s a nice lad and excellent boxer, but I don’t know where I can go with him.”
The pair have now parted company and Thomas will have his 10th pro fight at Leicester City’s ground.
Norman has won 12 of his 17 contests and has made unsuccessful challenges for the English and British flyweight belts.
Words: Roy Kelly
