DUDLEY middleweight Jamie Ball says the next 12 months will be “make-or-break” for his boxing career.

Unbeaten Ball is looking for his 11th professional win when he next enters the ring at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on September 5.

The 26-year-old has been promised a title fight in November if he emerges unscathed and is under no illusions as to how important his next few fights will be.

He said: “I know that with every fight the stakes are getting higher.

“By November I could be up to title level and it will put me in with a chance of going places.

“I have got to be prepared mentally as well as physically, I can’t afford to switch off from now on.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking to be honest but I am confident.

“The next 12 months are going to be make-or-break for me, every fight is important.”

Ball has spent time sparring up in Manchester with former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Matthew Hall, while he has also shared ring-time with Stourbridge’s Kevin McCauley.

But he will be fighting through the pain barrier to some extent as he is still to fully recover from knee surgery.

Ball had cartilage in his right knee repaired earlier this year but says the injury is still giving him problems.

He said: “To be honest I was hoping to hit my training bang on but the operation does not seem to have made much of a difference to my knee.

“I’m still having to hold back on some of the running and take it easy.

“I’ve been back to hospital for X-rays which have confirmed the cartilage is prepared.

“I have to go back in six months and we will just have to see what happens.

“Otherwise preparations have been fine and sparring with Matthew Hall was really good, it was better than most of my fights.”

First Team Promotions’ Civic show is headlined by the welterweight clash between Sweden’s Patrick Bogere and Ghanaian Philip Kotey for the vacant International Masters.

Dudley’s Sam Padgett and Halesowen’s Keith Sheen will also feature on the undercard.

Tickets are available by contacting PJ Rowson on 07976 283157 or for anyone who can’t make it the entire show will be broadcast live on Ricky Hatton’s promotional website.