GWENT’S Hari Miles will put his friendship with Dorian Darch on hold next month when the two clash for the vacant Welsh heavyweight crown – a title that has not been contested in 27 years.

The former sparring partners headline Sanigar Events’ Merthyr Mayhem show on July 23, topping a bill packed with boxing talent from across the principality.

For Miles, the fight will be only his second at heavyweight, though he was widely praised for the way he performed in his first outing in the division, a points loss to unbeaten Nick Webb last month.

The 30-year-old southpaw from Blackwood has a clear height and reach advantage over Aberdare’s Darch, who has won his last three encounters on home soil.

Despite being two years older and four inches shorter than his rival, former Welsh amateur champion Darch is unlikely to be phased, having faced the likes of Anthony Joshua and Hughie Fury.

“We are quite good mates,” said Miles, who can’t wait for the first bell to sound at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre.

“We’ve sparred hundreds of rounds together over the years and I helped him out when he got to the final of the Welsh ABAs.

“We’ll have to put our friendship on hold for the night in Merthyr, we have to because we both want to win the title.

“It’s a big fight for both our careers and whoever loses will really have to think about where they go next.”

It was at Star Leisure Centre in Splott on June 8, 1989 that the Welsh heavyweight title was last contested – Newport’s Andrew Gerrard suffered a points defeat to Llanelli’s Chris Jacobs on that occasion.

Assessing his opponent, Miles added: “On paper, Dorian is the favourite because he has got a better record than me, but he has fought a lot of journeymen.

“I’ve fought a lot better guys than he has – Nick Webb probably would have knocked out Dorian.

“I’ve just come up to heavyweight so he has got to make the most of that, but he is shorter than me and a few years older.

“I’ve done 10 rounds a few times, Dorian struggles to get past six, so the only way he will win is by knocking me out.”

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that former British champion Gary Buckland will fight for the first time in 10 months on the Frank Warren show in Cardiff on July 16.

St Joseph’s star Buckland, 30, takes on Matty Fagan, who has eight wins from nine outings, at the Ice Arena Wales nearly a year after losing to Sean Dodd on points.