“New Fighter” Purdy Out To Dethrone European Champion Bundu

Lee Purdy and has vowed to show he has become a different fighter since losing to Devon Alexander, when he challenges Italian Leonard Bundu for the European Welterweight Title at the ExCeL, London on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

The Colchester man has described Saturday’s fight as a ‘must win’ and says that if he does take Bundu’s belt he wants to put himself in a position where champions will have no choice but to fight him.

“Every fighter says it – but I really am in the best shape of my life,” he said. “If there was an opponent that I could choose stylistically, then Bundo would be it. It’s going to be a cracking fight for me and the fans and I’m just really looking forward to fighting now, putting on a big show and finishing off the year with a bang.

“Obviously in my last fight against Devon Alexander I struggled with the weight a little bit, but since then I’ve changed things and I’m a different fighter. You will see a different Lee Purdy on Saturday.

“I hope that I have taken enough from that fight to get me to the next level and prove a lot of doubters wrong.

“Saturday is a must win fight for me. He’s older, but a good name for me. He’s unbeaten, knows his way around the ring and stylistically I think it’s going to be a great fight. We both like to come and have a fight, so I think the fans are in for a treat.

“I have been in training for quite a while for this fight which meant I brought my weight down nice and slowly, so I made the weight no problem. All the good preparation means that the crowd will see a different animal in there Saturday night.

“When I win this European title it will shoot me up the rankings, not just because of the title – but also because Bundu is rated highly. So next year I’m going to be looking to fight myself into a position where champions are going to have to fight me. I believe that’s the level I should be operating at and I can’t wait to prove that to people. A win Saturday will go some way to starting to do that.

“I believe I’m in the best shape both physically and mentally. I’m going to finish the year on a high.”

The stacked card at ExCeL London features 16 fights with former World Lightweight Title challenger Kevin Mitchell now defending his IBF Inter-Continental Title against Karim El Ouazghari, after Brunet Zamora was denied exit from Italy.

Recent IBF Bantamweight king Jamie McDonnell is out for the second time in four weeks, two-time World Middleweight Title challenger Martin Murray is also back in action against Sergey Khomitsky and British Super Middleweight champion Paul Smith was added to the bill earlier this week.

There are two tasty Southern Area title clashes as Tony Owen defends his Light Welterweight strap against fellow Carshalton man Ricky Boylan, and Ryan ‘Crash Bang’ Taylor meets Floyd Moore for the vacant Lightweight belt. Danny Connor lost to Owen in their October meeting for the title, and he is in an eliminator for the English Light Welterweight belt against Tyler Goodjohn.

Erick Ochieng is back in action after his battle with Liam Smith for the British Light Middleweight title, moving down to Welterweight to face Welshman Dale Evans, unbeaten Super Flyweight Kal Yafai moves into double figures in the pro ranks, there’s a welcome return to the ring for unbeaten Lightweight prospectMartin J Ward and Essex Light Welterweight John Wayne Hibbert looks to build on his British Masters triumph. Cruiserweight duo Wadi Camacho and Ben Ileyemi and unbeaten Bristol Welterweight Tamuka Mucha complete the line-up.

Tickets are on sale now priced £40, £60 and £100 through www.seetickets.com and on 0871 230 7148. VIP packages priced £150 are available exclusively through Matchroom Boxing – www.matchroomboxing.com – or call 01277 359900.