By Elliot Foster

Andy Townend has been handed a shot at a major title.

The Barnsley super-featherweight will vie for the vacant Commonwealth title.

Townend (17-4, 12 KOs) has a fight scheduled for March 4 at Doncaster Dome, on a Stefy Bull-promoted show, but the 27-year-old’s manager confirmed the good news on social media on Thursday.

‘The KO Kid’ had previously been installed as the mandatory challenger to former champion Liam Walsh but the Cromer man relinquished the belt after winning a final eliminator for the IBF world title.

Now that Walsh (21-0, 14 KOs) is next in line for a shot at the sport’s latest breakout star Gervonta Davis, who knocked out Jose Pedraza inside seven rounds to claim the crown in New York last month, Townend has secured a shot at the rainbow belt.

Manager Bull, a former fighter, said that an agreement has been reached for Townend to face Jon Kays (22-5-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant title, provided he wins next month.

A date and venue is to be confirmed for the clash, but Bull says it is “a great domestic match up for a major title.”

Further details regarding the showdown will be revealed in due course.

In other news, MTK Global have announced a trio of signings and a two new fight nights.

Craig Bunn (9-0-1, 2 KOs) campaigns in the super-middleweight division and is currently on a six-fight winning streak, while Cornelius Ramaphala (1-0) earned a points victory on his debut in June of last year and is yet another exciting talent to emerge from South Africa. He will operate in the light-welterweight division.

Meanwhile, the Puerto Banus-based organisation has confirmed that its London branch will do a show at the Brentwood Centre on May 19 and its Manchester arm will return to action on March 4 at Preston Guild Hall, with undefeated Liverpudlian Gerard Carroll set to feature.

And Messech Russell has turned professional under MTK. The Everton Red Triangle-trained fighter will remain at the Liverpool gym as he aims to make waves in the paid code.

An announcement on his professional debut will be made in due course.