TWO local fighters will step through the ropes this evening in front of a jam-packed Brentwood Centre crowd.
Kris Agyei-Dua (left) and Joe Mullender are both looking to take the next step in their professional careers in a bill labelled 'Earthquake in Essex'.
Agyei-Dua, 32, a light middleweight from Hutton who is trained by Romford's Jamie Williams, tops the bill with his re-match against Nathan Green for the vacant Southern Area title.
In September the pair battled out a draw but the former builder and semi-professional footballer is convinced things will be different this time around.
"It was my first ten-round contest and I think that played a big part," said the former St. Martins School pupil.
"I started well but I threw the middle rounds away.
"I think I've identified what happened in the last one. In hindsight when I watch myself box that night I was very tense.
"I was headlining a TV show and maybe the occasion got to me but now I've done it and I've got a second chance.
"This is the biggest night of my career and I'm going to win. This time I'm leaving nothing in there. I didn't box to the best of my ability last time."
This will be the third time he's fought at the venue, the second as a pro. "I won here in May against Jason Ball and that helped get rid of some demons," he said.
"I'd lost an unlicensed fight earlier in my career at the Brentwood Centre and that was a tough one to take – I still think I won it."
Agyei-Dua turned pro nearly two years ago following a promising amateur and unlicensed career. His record stands at four wins, two draws and one defeat.
"I'd love to fight for an English title soon," he said.
"I'm surprised at my progress and when I win on Saturday I can move onwards."
Meanwhile Mullender, from Kelvedon Hatch, puts his two-fight unbeaten record on the line against Bulgarian Samet Hyusenov in a six-round contest.
Also a middleweight, the 26-year-old had to pull out of his last fight in September with a nose infection and subsequent tonsillitis.
"I've been out for about six months so I can't wait to get back in there again," he said.
"I don't know too much about him. I haven't managed to find anything on YouTube or anywhere."
The fights will be screened live on TV channel PrimeTime. All the action gets underway at 3pm this Saturday.
For tickets contract Kris Agyei-Dua via his Facebook page.
