Hatton Boxing: European Champ Foster Feels Like The Challenger

Stephen Foster Jr is waking up every morning and forgetting that he will be defending his European super-featherweight championship later this month.

The Salford boxer puts his title up for grabs against mandatory contender Ermano Fegatilli in the Premier Suite at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium on Friday February 26. Foster, 30, caused one of the upsets of 2010 when he knocked out Levan Kirakosyan inside three rounds to win the European crown.

And the pressure is in to deliver in front of the Sky TV cameras in a tough first defence against a smart boxing Belgian. He admitted: “It does feel different now that I am a champion, but that doesn’t mean I am under-estimating Fegatilli.

“I am going in there with the mind-set like I am a challenger and training harder than ever. I have put so much in to get this far.”

Foster, who has won 28 of his 31 fights believes he might earn a shot at WBO champion Ricky Burns in the next 18 months. He added: “I hope the Burns fight happens, but I can’t worry about him. I have just got to keep winning and see what happens.”

Also fighting on the bill is Mancunian Olympic star Joe Murray. He is up against tough Frenchman Daniel Kodjo Sassou who recently took Scott Quigg 12 rounds.

Others hopefuls on the undercard include Belarusian star Sergey Rabchenko,Keiron Maher, Richard Towers, Sheffield’s big ticket seller Adam Etches and Dezzie Higginson.

Tickets for’ Night of Champions’ £35, £55 (Ringside) and £75 VIP Ringside, www.brandhatton.com /0844 847 2500/0161 775 7500