Boxing: Two of Yorkshire's best known gladiators put their careers on the line when they clash in a triple title showdown in Halifax next month.

Leeds veteran Crawford Ashley, 34, puts his European, British and Common-wealth light-heavyweight belts on the line against York's Henry Wharton at North Bridge Leisure Centre on Saturday, February 6.

And the stakes for this eagerly-anticipated White Rose clash are high - the winner will be in the hunt for a world title shot, while the loser will face retirement.

"Neither of these two need any motivation for this fight," said promoter Frank Maloney. "Whoever loses, it's the end of the road. The winner goes on and the loser has to live off his savings."

The fight has been a natural since Wharton moved up a weight from super-middle last March. Only injuries have delayed it from taking place.

Wharton - three times an unsuccessful challenger for world titles at the lower weight - says the move up has made it easier and given him a new lease of life.

He lost challenges to Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn in 1994, and three years later to Robin Reid - all on points.

He said: "At super-middleweight I was struggling so much - I was very successful, but I've got a lot more spring in my step. Whereas before I could just push for three or four rounds, now I am able to maintain that. I'm not thinking further than this fight at the moment because I know if I lose I will have to seriously consider retirement."

Ashley, too, has had unsuccessful tilts at world level, losing a challenge to Michael Nunn in 1993 and two years later suffering a points reversal to accomplished American Virgil Hill.

"I've just got to win," admitted Ashley, who picked up the vacant European crown by beating Joe Siluvangi in York in September. "None of the current world champions scare me."

The chief supporting contest features Harrow's Patrick Mullings against Scot Brian Carr for the British super-bantamweight title.

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