York warrior Henry Wharton may be in line for a summer shot at the European title, in what could effectively be a War of the White Roses.

Henry Wharton

Wharton's trainer, Gary Atkin, is eyeing up an all-Yorkshire battle with Sheffield's Clinton Woods, should the latter retain his European light heavyweight belt against Norwegian Ole Klemetsen on April 29.

The move would see Wharton - back in the fight game after coming out of retirement - side-step any title eliminator and jump the queue for a swift return to the boxing big time .

Ironically, Wharton, the former British, Commonwealth and European champion at super-middleweight, had to pull out of a title eliminator with London's Mark Delaney on the April Wembley Arena showdown after a severe bout of gastro-enteritis.

And although he would still be happy to see off Delaney in the ring, Atkin is hopeful Wharton's big fight pedigree will provide his man with a straight shot at the title, perhaps at the end of July.

He said Wharton's manager, fight promoter Frank Maloney, is currently concentrating on the major April 29 fight-night, which sees Woods on the British undercard to the New York world title double header involving Lennox Lewis and Scarborough's Paul Ingle.

But he added: "Once that is over with we will be looking to see if we can get it on with Delaney or the winner of Woods versus Klemetsen. Also, if (York fighter) Jamie Warters wants to fight Henry, we will be happy with that too.

"Personally I would like Woods to beat Klemetsen, and then Henry to fight him for the European title.

"I know Woods fancies the fight with Henry, and Henry fancies fighting him, but it all depends on whether the European body want it."

The European governing body stipulate that their champions have to fight the respective number one contenders every six months.

However, each title holder can arrange to fight their own named challenger in between times and, said Atkin, Wharton would come into that category.

"Henry is a big name in European boxing and if a such a fight comes along, I think we should take it," he said.

"The clock is ticking along as far as Henry's age goes and he's not getting any younger.

"A Wharton-Woods title fight is how I'd like it to go but we will have to wait and see."

l York boxer Graham Fearn faces the biggest test of his amateur career as he closes in on a top national title.

Yorkshire and Humberside ABA light-welterweight champion Fearn, 25, of Rowntree Avenue, Clifton, faces Britain's number one Nigel Wright on Friday in Hartlepool.

Victory in the North-east section of the prestigious competition will keep Fearn on track for a shot at the ABA national title.

But he faces a stiff task if he is to overcome the vastly experienced Durham-based Wright, who has fought for England in the Commonwealth games, recently boxed in the European championships and is expected to claim a place in the national squad heading for this summer's Sydney Olympics.

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