STUART HALL admits it will be time for him to “put up or shut up” when he faces former foe Paul Butler at the end of next month – but the Darlington fighter is confident he will avenge his 2014 World-title defeat to set up a career-defining tilt at the WBA World Bantamweight crown.

Hall will take on Butler in a WBA eliminator at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on September 30, with the fight topping a blockbuster bill that will be screened on Sky Sports and promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom operation.

The pair clashed at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena in June 2014, with Butler claiming Hall’s IBF World title via a controversial split decision.

Next month’s rematch gives Hall an opportunity to claim revenge, and represents a golden opportunity for the 37-year-old to return to the very highest level after a relatively quiet year.

Hall, who is only the second North-East fighter to have claimed a World title, has only fought once since losing another IBF World-title showdown to Lee Haskins last September, but was always confident he would get another chance to prove his enduring quality.

He will be tackling Butler in his own backyard, but with his opponent having suffered a high-profile defeat of his own when he was knocked out by Zolani Tete in a World Super Flyweight bout in 2015, Hall is confident he will come out on top next month.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” he said. “I know this is the last chance to set up a shot at a World title, so in that respect, it’s time for me to put up or shut up because I’ve been shouting for this ever since I was robbed against Haskins.

“It’s a chance for me to end my career on a high – win this next fight, and I’ll be back in there fighting for the World title.

“It’s also about unfinished business, because as far as I’m concerned, I beat Butler the first time around. I don’t think I lost that fight, but I’ve finally got a chance to put that right.

“I can’t wait to get back in there against him because since that night, our careers have gone two different ways. I’ve had three massive fights since then. I’ve been back in for World titles and fought people like Randy Caballero, who’s in a different league to what Butler’s been facing. He’s been knocked out, and then fought against journeymen to try to get his confidence back. He won’t know what’s hit him when he comes up against me.”

With next month’s contest paving the way for a WBA World title fight, a Hall victory would set up the intriguing possibility of a showdown with Jamie McDonnell at the start of next year.

The bulk of Hall’s career has been spent chasing a rematch with McDonnell, who triumphed when the pair met for the British, Commonwealth and European belts in 2011.

Both fighters have claimed World titles since then, with McDonell due to defend his WBA World Bantamweight crown against Liborio Solis before the end of the year.

The winner of that fight is set to take on the winner of the contest between Hall and Butler, with Hall admitting he would relish an opportunity to renew rivalries with McDonnell.

“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d love to fight McDonnell again,” he said. “I’ve got a massive amount of respect for him as a fighter, but I’d love to be able to test myself against him.

“In order to be able to do that, I’ve got to beat Butler, but he’s not in the same class as someone like McDonnell. As long as I prepare myself right, I can’t see any way that he can beat me.

“This is my last shot at the big time, and I’m not going to let it slip away. In the past, I’ve maybe been guilty of over-analysing things a bit too much and trying to fight in a style that doesn’t suit me.

“That won’t happen here. This will be the Stuart Hall of old, starting fast and going all guns blazing from the word go. I’ll be taking him apart, and it doesn’t bother me one bit that he’ll have his home supporters cheering him on.”

Hall’s last fight saw him outclass Jose Aguilar over six rounds at Newcastle’s Walker Dome, and he prepared for that contest by working with local trainer Peter Shepp in Darlington.

He intends to carry on doing some work with Shepp, but will relocate to his former training base in Birmingham for four days a week, enabling him to spar with the likes of Khalid and Gamal Yafai.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with Peter, and I don’t want to give that up,” said Hall. “But I’m going to be going down to Birmingham to do most of my work because I need the quality of sparring I can get down there.

“I’m not going to be cutting any corners in the next month, because I know how important this fight is for me. It’s the fight I’ve been waiting for, and I couldn’t be more confident that I’m going to win it.

“Butler will be making his mouth go in the next few weeks, but I’m just going to sit back and listen. Come the end of next month, I’ll be doing my talking in the ring.”