After just 10 professional fights, Croydon's Southern Area welter-welterweight champion Chas Symonds has the division running scared.

The 22-year-old from Stroud Green Way was meant to be facing Canning Town's Brett James on Friday night in a rematch of June's classic Southern Area title clash, but the former champion pulled out.

Bomber' Symonds will now face experienced Welshman Keith Jones for the vacant British Masters title at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday, but is seething that James made the challenge and then ran.

Having been knocked down in the second round of their previous bout, Symonds got up to halt the 27-year-old on cuts after four brutal rounds and accepted a rematch after James called him a coward.

Symonds told the Guardian: "He's the coward and I will never ever give him the chance to fight for this title again. If you are calling someone else a coward you have got to at least turn up for the fight. He should retire."

Symonds' promoter Eugene Maloney told the Guardian: "They wanted the rematch straight away, so I made it. Then he calls me to say he doesn't want the fight.

"Frankly I am embarrassed for the lad, but it's probably for the best because Chas needs a test."

Maloney then had to find a new opponent for the September 24 date and found a division reluctant to face his hot young prospect at short notice.

He said: "I tried several fighter like John Honney but they didn't want to know. But Keith Jones is a tough fighter who never gives up."

Jones, 35, is a southpaw veteran of 108 fights and faced most of the division's top names like David Walker, Bobby Vanzie, and Steve Murray.

Symonds added: "He's an awkward fighter, a southpaw and he is not going to lie down. He has taken a lot of top fighters the distance and I am ready for 10 rounds but I want to make a mark on the division by stopping him."

Symonds' large Croydon following have already snapped up 400 tickets for the show which is sold out.

- For all the action from Friday's fight, see next week's Guardian.