JAMIE Moore will face the toughest test of his career when he takes on American Sechew Powell next month.

The Walkden ace is set to step into the ring with the classy New Yorker at Altrincham Leisure Centre on April 13.

Powell, ranked No 7 in the world by the IBF, has only lost once - against the highly-rated Kassim Ouma - in 22 fights, knocking out 12 of his opponents.

Negotiations are still ongoing between the two camps, but Moore's management team are confident of sealing the deal - leading the way to a possible world title fight in the summer should the British champion overcome the 27-year-old yank.

"He's a world class fighter and beating him would put me right up there to get a world title shot in the summer," said Moore, who defeated Mugurel Sebe on his return to action following a five-month injury lay-off on Friday night.

"I want a world title fight by the end of the year and I need to beat him to get one."

The southpaw added: "It's not 100 per cent yet but there's a good possibility. We're just waiting for confirmation and we re hoping we'll get that in the next few days.

They (Frank Maloney and Steve Wood) seem to think he'll take the fight and come over."

Moore cruised to a convincing points victory against the Romanian journeyman at Dagenham's Goresbrook Leisure Centre.

The scrappy eight-round contest was the 28-year-old's first since undergoing a shoulder operation in October - and was the perfect preparation for next month's international showdown with Powell.

Moore downed his opponent in the third but Sebe hung on and his spoiling tactics ensured the fight went the distance.

"He was just trying to survive," said the Lonsdale belt holder, who was just happy to be back in the ring.

"He didn't come to win and that makes it 10 times more difficult.

"It makes it hard when someone doesn't want to fight and is just holding on because there are no openings, but it was just what I needed and the perfect preparation for this fight."

Bolton's Alex Matvienko is also in action on the same bill in his seventh fight against Yorkshireman Ryan Ashworth.