Dundee fighter Marc Navarro is relishing the chance to become the first Scot to win a BKB British title.
The bare-knuckle boxer has been handed a golden opportunity to become a champion following the withdrawal due to injury of Tyler Goodjohn.
That has left the path clear for Navarro to take on Welshman Sean George at Indigo Arena at the O2 in London on March 30.
It will be a highlight of the BKB 16 card and Navarro will be better prepared for battle than he was when he narrowly lost his last fight against Goodjohn.
He said: “This all started for me last November when I went down to London to fight Johnny Lawson.
“I beat him on a decision and it was declared the fight of the night.
“Straight after that I booked up to go travelling. Just after I stepped off the plane in San Jose in Costa Rica, BKB called me to stay that they had lined me up with a fight against Tyler Goodjohn, the ex-pro English champion.
“The winner would be fighting for the British title and I really wanted it.
“However, I knew straight away that it wasn’t ideal to take the fight while I was in Costa Rica.
“I took the risk, though.
“I set up camp over there and was training there on my own. I didn’t have my team around me as I do now.
“It was a gamble and then I came home early only to get the flu.
“Goodjohn beat me on a decision and if I am being honest I was tired after all the travelling.
“I still gave as good as I had and chased him until the end.”
Navarro revealed that he predicted the injury that has now ruled out Goodjohn and handed the Dundonian his chance instead.
He said: “What I did say before the fight was that he would hurt his hands. He has soft hands.
“I told everybody that he would hurt himself punching me before he hurt me.
“Look what happened. Two days after it he was saying that he can’t fight. It might be a broken hand, broken finger or a broken finger nail – I’m not sure!
“Now the company has got in touch with me to say that I’m next in line and will be boxing for the British title against Sean George.
“George has had four times the amount of bare-knuckle fights as I have had so he’s experienced in BKB terms. He has already been a world champion and is a well-respected guy but he doesn’t move or box like Goodjohn does so I’m confident.
“I have the full training camp behind me and it’s been great to be back in bonnie Dundee. I have a few weeks to go until the fight and I’m feeling good.
“If it goes as I expect, I will be the first man ever to bring a BKB title back to Scotland.”
