By Len Whaley MICHAEL Lomax hoped that winning the �25,000 first prize in the Matchroom Prizefighter welterweight competition last October would open new doors for his future. Now he looks forward to a British title bid at Manchester s MEN Arena on July

By Len Whaley

MICHAEL Lomax hoped that winning the �25,000 first prize in the Matchroom Prizefighter welterweight competition last October would open new doors for his future.

Now he looks forward to a British title bid at Manchester's MEN Arena on July 18, when he challenges Sheffield star Kell Brook.

With his 30th birthday behind him, the six-feet tall Lomax, a member of trainer Paul Cook's successful stable, knows it will give his career its biggest boost if he seizes his chance of glory on the bill that is topped by Amir Khan's clash with Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title.

The fight-wise southpaw who won an ABA title during his amateur career at Stepney's Broad Street BC is under no illusions about the task that's ahead on the Frank Warren promotion.

The 23-year-old Brook, hailed by Warren as one of the brightest prospects on the boxing scene, will be going for his 20th consecutive win when he faces Lomax.

Brook clinched the title at York Hall last June with a seventh-round success against tough Welsh southpaw Barrie Jones - and two more quick wins since have taken the hard-hitting northerner to eight stoppage wins in his last nine appearances.

It looks a stiff test, but the stylish Lomax is confident he has the ability to handle Brook to add the highlight performance to a solid six-year pro record that has seen him beaten just once - a points loss two years ago against Manchester southpaw - Craig Watson who went on to win the Commonwealth title.

Since that setback Lomax has chalked up five straight victories, including a success against former European champ Ted Bami, while on his way to success in the Prizefighter tournament.

Lomax battled to glory with three wins on the night, despite having several stitches inserted in a bad gash suffered on the way to the final.

"I hope now that I will get the title chances I deserve," insisted Lomax who has built up a car valet service alongside training at the Cook Gym.

Now the former ABA title-holder looks forward to a chance to clean up the division after his title bid on the world title promotion which has been switched from London's O2 Arena where it was due to be staged this Saturday night.

With the Docklands Arena already booked for a Michael Jackson concert on July 18, promoter Warren decided to switch the whole bill north - and Lomax's super-featherweight champion stablemate Kevin Mitchell has been added to the MEN bill.

The show includes the Commonwealth light-middleweight title clash between Manchester's Matthew Hall and Londoner Anthony Small.

Also booked on the show are the promoter's Olympic trio James DeGale, Billy Joe Saunders and Frankie Gavin.