Local rivals Lee Purdy and Colin Lynes are both well inside the welterweight limit for their British title showdown.
More than local pride at stake for Purdy and Lynes
Lee Purdy and Colin Lynes are ready for the 'Battle of Essex' tonight after weighing in for their British Welterweight title battle at the Nu Bar Loughton.
Champion Purdy, from Colchester, tipped the scales at 10st 6lb 2oz, well inside the 10st 7lbs limit. Hornchurch challenger Lynes came in three pounds heavier for what will be his 14th title bout.
Purdy by contrast is in only his fourth major title fight but knows victory will see him retain the Lonsdale belt outright.
And the 24-year-old says the difference experience will count for nothing when the first bell sounds at the York Hall, live on
Sky Sports HD1.
"I've got nothing but respect for Colin and what he has done in the game - but I think I will have too much for him," said Purdy.
"I have trained better than ever for this as it's a really massive occasion for me topping the bill at York Hall in a title defence live on
Sky Sports, and I am totally confident that I will come out on top."
Lynes, now 33, is best-known for his successes as a light-welterweight, where he was British and European champion.
Advantage
He moved up after defeat to Ajose Olusegun last April but admits that his former glories will count for nothing as he looks to kickstart his career, having been written off by many following that loss.
"Experience does come into it but I'm not going to rely on it tonight," said Lynes.
"It's a question that keeps getting put to me, but it's not something during training that I've been working with the attitude that I've this many fights and that many rounds, so I'm going to win the fight. That would be stupid.
"Statistically, it's an advantage for me to have had more rounds and more title fights, but he'll be thinking his age is an advantage to him.
"So I'm under no illusions that my experience is a good thing, but it's not going to win me the fight"
A limited number of unreserved (£35) and ringside (£60) tickets for the clash, plus full championship undercard featuring heavyweight sensation Mike Perez will be available on the door at the York Hall in Bethnal Green from 6pm.
