RENDALL MUNROE will face Japanese star Ryuta Miyagi at Sheffield's Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday 24th September.

The ten round non-title battle is chief support when Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes risks his British super-featherweight crown against Cardiff’s Gary Buckland.

Munroe is no stranger to fighting boxers from the Land of the Rising Sun, having challenged WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka in Tokyo last October when he bravely lost on points.

Osaka’s Miyagi boasts a record of 21 wins (16 inside the distance), five losses and four draws.

He comes into the Munroe test having outpointed countryman Shota Hayashi in July over ten rounds.

Miyagi, 36, scored his best win back in April 2007 when he defeated recent WBA super-bantamweight champion, Ryol Li Lee.

Southpaw Munroe is mandatory contender for his old European crown and currently ranked tenth in the world by the WBA and WBC.

His promoter Ricky Hatton said: “A win over Miyagi and Rendall’s world ranking should improve.

“The main thing is to keep Rendall active so when he does get another world title chance he is primed and ready.

“There is the European title and Rendall’s chance at that is almost due, but we both want a world championship challenge.

“Rendall proved against Nishioka that he belongs at the highest level and I expect him to show that against Miyagi.”

Impressive prospects Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins, Richard Towers and Jezz Wilson are among the local hopefuls boxing on the bill.

Heavyweight Towers and light-middleweight Etches face Belarussian’s Yuri Bihoutseu and Yauheni Abdurazakau, respectively.

Jenkins who has sold 300 tickets bids for his second professional win boxes a selected opponent.

Wilson faces Deeside’s exciting light-middleweight Tom Doran in a battle of Hatton promoted hopefuls.

And the Steel city’s former Commonwealth light-heavyweight challenger Billy Boyle faces Welsh banger Justyn Hugh.

Manchester’s former amateur star Tommy Stubbs makes his pro debut when he faces, tricky Kuwaiti Anwar Alfadi, who boxes out of Brendan Ingle’s stable.

There are some tickets left priced £35, £55 and £75 VIP from 01925 755222. Be quick, this show WILL sell-out.

The card will be screened live by Sky Sports.