Crawley's Alan Gilbert hopes to claim the Southern Area light-middleweight title in front of his home town fans tonight.

The 30-year-old challenges Delroy Mellis for the area crown at Crawley Leisure Centre.

The contest will be a rematch of their bout last July which Mellis won after Gilbert was stopped due to a cut eye.

Tonight's show, which also features Crawley's British super-bantamweight champion Michael Alldis in an international contest against Frenchman Salem Bouaita, has captured the imagination of the Crawley public.

A sell-out crowd of 1,500 is expected and Gilbert believes that can help him to victory.

Gilbert said: "I am really looking forward to it. I would have boxed this guy in Scotland if I had to but it is an added bonus being in Crawley.

"I am in good shape. I have done 65 rounds of sparring, I am really fit and I can't wait."

Although he lost to Mellis previously, Gilbert is determined to gain revenge tonight.

He said: "I have plans this time and I won't let him get too close to me.

"There is no way he can beat me on boxing ability."

Topping the bill on tonight's show, which starts at 6pm, is a Commonwealth light-middleweight title fight between Canadian Tony Badea and challenger Richard Williams from London.