JIM CALDECOURT may be banned from using his most lethal weapon in tonight's world title showdown in Brighton.

Caldecourt won't know until just before the fight at the Corn Exchange whether his speciality move, the spinning back fist, will be outlawed by the world governing body.

Explained the 32-year-old former painter and decorator: "They are trying to get it banned because of the damage it can cause."

The spectacular manoeuvre has helped Caldecourt score many of his victories, but even if he is prevented from using it he still believes he has enough ammunition in his artillery to win.

Caldecourt's opponent over 12 rounds for the WKMA light-middleweight crown is Frenchman Franc Derose, whose favourite move, a round kick to the body, is not in dispute.

Caldecourt and his trainer at the Brighton-based Kicks Martial Arts Centre, Chris Kent, watched Derose fight the last time he was in England.

Said Caldecourt: "He is durable and has plenty of experience, but I'm at the peak of my career and he doesn't worry me. I'm very confident about the fight."

If he defeats the champion, Caldecourt will become the fourth Brighton fighter to hold a world title after Mark Waters, Nick Clark and Garnet John.

It will be his second attempt at winning a world championship.

His previous title shot was against Irishman Paul Cummins in Dublin in 1999. Caldecourt lost on points but reckons he should have got the verdict.

He won the world amateur super-welterweight title five years ago when he stopped American Mark Kern in Brighton, and he captured the European professional crown when he knocked out another Frenchman, Omar Settai, last year. He won his warm-up fight last month in a canter, defeating Nigel Thomson at Bedford.

The Brighton fighter had his opponent down in the first round and won convincingly on points.

Now Caldecourt is set to challenge for the biggest prize of his career in front of a capacity crowd.

There are also two British title bouts on the bill, both rematches, featuring Brighton fighters Sean Mallett and Si Tompsett.

Mallett goes in against Thomas Flynn for the WKMA welterweight belt, while Tompsett clashes with Darren Forest for the light-middleweight crown.

The undercard includes a series of England v France contests. Local fighters in action are Anthony mWinters, DamienHamilton, Mark Brown and Shaun Harris.

The programme starts at 7pm.