A DATE of March 5 has been pencilled for the much-anticipated showdown between Trowbridge's British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell and rival Chris Eubank Jr.

Blackwell's promoter Mick Hennessy won the purse bid to stage the contest back in December and a British Boxing Board of Control circular released this week, named March 5 as the date for the bout.

It is expected to take place at the Glow venue at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, although Hennessy Sports have yet to confirm the date or time.

Blackwell has made two successful defences of the British title he won in May of last year, the most recent coming against Jack Arnfield in November.