By Elliot Foster

Thomas Stalker (10-1-2, 2 KOs) will return to the ring before the end of the year.

The Liverpool lightweight will feature on the undercard of Frank Warren’s ‘Xmas Cracker card’ on December 19 at Manchester Arena.

Stalker, who will return to the venue of his last outing, was handed a questionable draw against Craig Evans (14-1-1, 3 KOs) last month on the ‘World War III’ card.

And BoxingScene can reveal that the 31-year-old Scouser will fight one of two opponents on the Andy Lee-Billy Joe Saunders-topped bill, which will be aired live and exclusive on BoxNation.

‘The Captain’ has let the cat out the bag in as much as confirming that negotiations are ongoing surrounding a rematch with Blackwood’s Evans. Former WBO Inter-Continental lightweight champion Adrian Gonzalez (12-1, 4 KOs) is also in the running, although I am reliably informed that he and his team have already turned down the opportunity to face Stalker.

Elliot Foster is part of the UK Boxing Scene team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz