Kris Carslaw, the British light-middleweight title contender, will be the headline act in the return of big-time boxing to Paisley Town Hall after an absence of 25 years next week.

Colin Belshaw, the local trainer, has teamed up with businessman Ian Wilson to form Saltire Boxing Promotions in an effort to boost the sport in Scotland and the first promotion, on Friday, October 19, will feature six bouts.

Belshaw hopes to involve fellow Scottish promoters Tommy Gilmour, Alex Morrison, Paul Graham and Alex Arthur in the hope of reviving small hall shows countrywide.

"It's our aim to stage five or six shows a year and, hopefully, other promoters will come on board to offer us support and advice," he said. "We have formed Saltire Boxing to manage and promote young boxers because it can be hard for them to get fights."

Belshaw has been encouraged by the response he's had from local fight fans. "We have pegged prices at £30 for unreserved seats and £40 for reserved and we've sold out the latter," he said. "The venue can accommodate up to 700 without any restricted views.

"After training fighters for the past seven years, I feel this is the next logical step for me; if this venture is successful it will enable me to go full-time so I can build a hard-core fan base."