Hartlepool 'S Borough Hall is set for an exciting rematch this Sunday – but with the added extra of a northern area title on the line.

Darlington's promising Neil Hepper is set to make his fifth appearance since turning professional and is keen to make amends against the man who inflicted his only defeat to date.

Back in March promoter Phil Jeffries hailed Hepper's contest with Fishburn's Gary Fox as the most entertaining fight he has put on so far and Sunday has the potential to go one better.

Fox narrowly defeated the former Darlington amateur ABC man by a single point that afternoon and is keen to ensure he ends up winning once more to further his claims to rise up the rankings.

But Hepper, who admits to getting “caught up in a war” the last time the two met, will be taking a different approach when they enter the ring at the same venue this weekend.

“I really appreciate the two bus loads of fans that are coming over to watch me and I'm determined to win in front of them,” said Paul Hamilton-trained Hepper. “The following proves they believe I can fulfil my potential because they were out there to watch that first fight when I lost.

“This time I have to stick to my boxing and I can't just go out to put on a show. I'm more of a thinker than Gary, he's more aggressive.

“After the last fight we gained a hell of a lot of experience from fighting Foxy. I have gained far more from going in with tough opponents early on rather than going in with journeymen and Foxy will be a tough test. This time I think I will end up on top. I believe I can definitely come out on top.”

Hepper, a Boys club champion with Darlington ABC in 2003/04 where he won 24 of his 38 amateur contests, will come up against an opponent full of intention himself though.

Fox, 26, has not lost since his points defeat to William Warburton in September 2010 and is keen to stop Hepper in his tracks in an attempt to take the next step in his career.

He has been in Glasgow sparring with British champion Derry Mathews with his former South Durham ABC stablemate Bradley Saunders. He was inside the Exhibition Centre on Saturday to watch Saunders win his latest pro bout inside three rounds.

Fox said: “I want to up my game now. I've been sparring up in Glasgow with world champions, top boxers, so I'm going in to a ten-rounder because I want to up my game.

“It makes you itch to fight when you go up and see a night like that in Glasgow. I want to get on a show and obviously it's this week so I have not had long to wait.”

Fox accepts Hepper will be a tough opponent, but is in a similarly confident mood as he looks to celebrate the ninth win of his career with the Northern Area light welterweight title.

“I am getting better and better all the time. Neil Fannan, my trainer, has prepared for world title fights before, ten and 12 rounders so he knows what he is talking about,” he said.

“The last time I got in the ring with Neil I was at a stage where I was not taking boxing as seriously as I should. I'm now getting to the point where I want to make something of myself in boxing. I've got this title fight and I just want to stick in.

“Neil wanted the rematch, it was a close first fight. There was only a point in it, although I thought there was more in it than that. All I wanted was the win and I got it.”

The Hepper-Fox rematch will be the chief support fight to the main event on Sunday when Durham boxer Martin Ward meets Nottingham's Jason Booth for the English bantamweight title.

Hartlepool duo Peter Cope and Callum Winton will be on the seven-fight bill along with Middlesbrough's Mohammed Waqas, Horden's Greg O'Neil and Gateshead's Robert Ismay.

* Tickets for the Borough Hall show are still available from all boxers, or by calling 0774 7611 020. There will also be some tickets available on the door.