Quartermaine gets his big TV fight night

Danny Quartermaine at today’s press conference

DANNY Quartermaine – the swash-buckling lightweight who is putting Leamington back on the pro boxing map – explodes on the national fight scene on Saturday.

The 25-year-old who oozes excitement in the ring gets his first taste of big time boxing at the weekend’s major televised Resorts World bill in Birmingham.

Danny, who has won all of his eight paid contests, meets tough Mexican Christian Lopez Flores over four rounds.

Flores has won 14 of 40 (two draws), is durable and has mixed in good class. In March he took Macauley Owen – a prospect tipped for very big things – the six round distance.

Quartermaine – from the Warwickshire town that produced world champ Randy Turpin – is guaranteed a noisy reception at the Resorts World Arena. He has a legion of fans.

He told today’s (Thursday’s) big fight press conference at Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel: “Leamington is very boxing orientated. I’m bringing a lot of support and it will be a great atmosphere.

“They can expect excitement. I can box on the front foot and when I have to brawl, I’ll brawl. It’s a massive opportunity. It’s a chance to showcase what I can do skill-wise and what I can bring to the party.

“I’ll have to be focused all the time. He (Flores) is going to come forward and fight, which is exactly what I want.”

Away from the TV cameras, Danny told me his championship future lay at super-feather (junior-light).

“I’m fighting a tough lad from Mexico,” he said. “You’ll see the best performance from myself – I won’t have to hunt him down. I’ve been sparring Cori Gibbs – it’s the top lads you need to be sparring.”