Leek boxer Andy Keates is preparing for the fight of his life when he steps into the ring at a sold out O2 Arena.
The 24-year-old is fighting fellow Brit Ohara Davies for the English Title on Anthony Joshua’s undercard in London.
Keates has been training in Hanley for 12 weeks to prepare for his title shot and has said he is in “mega shape” ahead of the fight.
He has already had a fight for the belt but lost to Kevin Hooper on a points decision in November 2015.
The belt is now vacant after Hooper gave up the title to pursue a British title shot, giving Keates another chance to claim the title.
Since turning professional aged 18, the light weight has had a total of 14 fights in which he registered 11 wins and three defeats.
His opponent is renowned for being a hard-hitting boxer and has never gone further than six rounds in any of his previous 10 bouts.
Keates believes his experience will benefit him ahead of Saturday when he gets into the ring and is confident he can claim the belt on Saturday.
He said: “I don’t give too much away, I come for a war, I’m strong and a clever boxer.
“I don’t go looking for a knock out.
“I like to show people I can stand and do 10 rounds otherwise what’s the point in training to only go 3?”
His opponent called him a “bum” and a “journeyman” when they met in front of the press earlier this week.
Keates said: “I’ve heard he’s a good kid but he’s never been tested so I think the pressure is on him really as I have the rounds under me, he’s never been past six rounds and I have done 10 rounds three times.
“It’s exciting for me, it is a great opportunity.”
The Hanley-based fighter sees this fight as a stepping stone to his next challenge, he plans to defend the title before setting his sights on the British Title.
Hooper is backing his former opponent to win at the weekend despite him being the underdog.
He said: “Ohara is known to be a big puncher and gets people out early so he needs to tuck up and take him to the later rounds and see how he deals with it.
“If Keates can take him into the late rounds and has enough work ethic he can do it.”
Watch Keates in action on Sky Box Office tomorrow (Saturday April 9) at 6pm.
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