SCOTT Welch will try to end a run of bad luck this summer by becoming theBritish and Commonwealth heavyweight champion again.

The Shoreham man challenges Julius Francis for both titles at the London Arena on June 26.

Welch already has a victory against Francis under his belt. He knocked out the champion from Woolwich in ten rounds in Kensington four years ago to land the southern area crown.

He went on to win the British and Commonwealth titles two months later, knocking out James Oyebola in the same round at the Brighton Metropole.

Welch, 31 last month, has suffered a succession of setbacks in his bid to return to the top since he was heavily outpointed by former WBO world champion Henry Akinwande in America two and a half years ago.

AEuropean title showdown against Germany's Axel Scultz was scrapped three times when both fighters suffered injuries.

Welch thought he had secured a second world title shot against his old stable mate Herbie Hide earlier this year, but Hide did not want the fight.

Hide makes a mandatory defence of his WBO heavyweight title on the same London Arena bill against unbeaten German-based Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, a former European champion.

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