The Ring has learned that plans are in place for European light heavyweight champion, Bradley Rea, to defend his newly won title against former world title challenger, Lyndon Arthur, on a light heavyweight-focused Queensberry card in Manchester this autumn.

Rea (21-1, 10 KOs) has patiently waited for a major stage since being unceremoniously — and unfairly — cast into the wilderness after losing a decision to future European middleweight champion, Tyler Denny, in 2022.

Forced back to the small hall scene, the 27-year-old from Stretford abandoned the 160lb division and reinvented himself as a light heavyweight.

Six consecutive wins put him into the picture for a title opportunity and, in June, he won the vacant European 175lb title by outlasting Shakan Pitters in an excellent 12-round battle.

The fight would also offer Moston’s Arthur (24-3, 16 KOs) the ideal chance to get back into the mix at the top of the 175lb division.

In December 2023, Arthur lost a wide decision to current undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol. A hard-fought win over Liam Cameron got him back into contention, but in April he lost his rubber match with Anthony Yarde on points on the undercard of the middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn.

The possibility of a Manchester derby between Rea and Arthur, 34, became a topic on conversation almost immediately after the former had his arm raised after beating Pitters and it now looks like it may happen.