VICTORIOUS borough boxers Scott Evans and Jamie Ball have their sights set on title shots within the next 12 months after extending their unbeaten records.

The pair made steps up in class and weight on the First Team Promotions card at Wolverhampton Civic Hall last Friday, but overcame their respective challenges to take points decisions.

Evans stepped up to light-middleweight to take his record to six wins from six fights (two KOs), with a 40-36 victory over Pontefract’s Peter Dunn.

Usually the aggressor, Evans was forced to stand back and pick off Dunn, who was intent on tangling up the Stourbridge fighter to prevent him from going to work on the inside.

But Evans finished strongly, landing a solid left-right hook flurry in the final round.

October marks the end of Evans’ first year in the professional ranks, and he admitted he is now starting to think about titles.

“I upped the pace a little bit but he was cagey,” said Evans.

“He was drawing me into a bit of a scrap so I was told to keep it long, and when I did I boxed nice.

“He was the heaviest opponent I have fought but I think I coped with it alright.

“I’ve got another fight in a month and then that is the end of my first year.

“They are talking of stepping up the opponents for the next few fights, see how I cope and then titles are on the horizon hopefully.”

In his third professional bout, Dudley’s Ball came up against the notorious Ernie ‘Gypsy Boy’ Smith.

The Stourport veteran, in his 149th bout, let Ball know he was in a contest, landing a couple of early hooks to the head.

But Ball showed great maturity in the latter rounds, using his awkward southpaw style to outbox Smith.

After passing his latest test, Ball too set himself a target of earning a Midlands title crack within the next year.

“It is all part of the game I have got to learn,” he said.

“There were times where I began to lose my composure and I heard them in the corner shouting “keep it together”.

“From the third round onwards I picked it up and worked him and worked him.”

“In the next 12 months I want to fight for a Midlands title.

“You have got to be ambitious and you have got to be optimistic.

“If I keep going at this level, fighting every six to eight weeks, build up my levels and build up my experience, if I am ready then I will do it.”