Stephen Simmons gets a chance to make major progress in his career when he challenges British cruiserweight champion Matty Askin in October on home soil.
Barnsley-based Askin is gambling in his first defence as travels to Scotland’s Capital to face fired-up Simmons and a hostile crowd.
But the champion is confident and says he opted to take the bout to prove who is the No 1 in the division in Britain rather than side-step the ambitious Scot.
It’s a mouth-watering contest on Friday, October 6 between two of the division’s biggest hitters.
Simmons has fought on 19 occasions as a professional winning 17 fights, seven with knockouts.
Askin, who won the title in May, has 22 wins, 14 by knockouts, in 26 fights having lost three and drawn one.
The 28-year-old has total respect for Simmons and told a packed press conference in Edinburgh: “I’m excited by this fight and this is the fight I wanted.
“I’m looking to bringing the best out of myself and I’m predicting a win.”
Simmons, now aged 33, says it has taken 21 years to get to this point and is still smarting from a split decision which he claims “robbed” him of the WBO International Cruiserweight title in Germany last year.
He said: “Losing in Germany has made me more hungry. This fight is massive for me. I’m 33 and it will help define me as a boxer.
“To win the title would be something else and I know the atmosphere will be incredible. The ticket sales are flying and I want to make history.”
Inverness heavyweight Gary Cornish squares up to 6ft 2in Sam Sexton from Norwich in another British title fight on the same bill at Meadowbank.
A victory for the 6ft 7in tall Inverness-born puncher, who now lives and trains in the Central Belt, would be the first time a Scotsman has lifted the British heavyweight crown.
Cornish, nicknamed The Highlander, has lost only once in 24 fights and has knocked out opponents on 12 occasions.
Sexton has achieved nine knockouts in his 26 fights, a record which includes three defeats.
The Scot said: “I’ve come south to work with Billy Nelson and get quality sparring.
“Billy has ironed out a number of faults and it should be a great fight. I have the chance to make history.”
Tickets are now on sale for the fight night named Capital Collison either from tickets-scotland.com/ or from boxers on the bill.
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