By Elliot Foster

Sean Dodd is expected to make an autumn return to the ring.

The Birkenhead lightweight had his finest hour in the pro game in May when he won the vacant WBC International title at Everton Football Club’s Goodison Park.

And after back-to-back failures to win the British title at the weight prior to beating Pasquale Di Silvio, Dodd is expected to make the first defence of the crown, exclusively live on Sky Sports.

Boxing Scene understands that Dodd, 32, will fight to retain his belt on October 15 at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena, as part of the undercard to Tony Bellew’s first defence of the WBC cruiserweight world title.

Former English and British super-featherweight title holder Gary ‘Five Star’ Sykes, who was knocked out inside two rounds by Luke Campbell in March when the pair contested the vacant Commonwealth title at 135lbs, is understood to be in pole position to be named ‘Masher’s’ opponent, with the pair putting on the line their records, which read 11-2-1 (2 KOs) and 28-5 (6 KOs), respectively.

WBC super-middleweight world title mandatory challenger Callum Smith (20-0, 15 KOs) and his brother Stephen Smith, the WBC Silver super-featherweight champion, are both expected to feature on the bill alongside former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price, who returned with a stoppage victory on May 29.