Esham Pickering has warned challenger Matthew Marsh not to underestimate him ahead of their British super-bantamweight title fight.
Pickering issues warning ahead of Marsh showdown
Esham Pickering has warned challenger Matthew Marsh not to underestimate him ahead of their British super-bantamweight title fight at York Hall on Friday.
Pickering is desperate to impress against Marsh having been unconvincing against Sean Hughes in his last two fights.
He lost the first of those before stopping "Short Fuse" Hughes in the rematch to claim the British title.
"A lot of people think I'm finished after my two fights with Sean Hughes, but that was not the real me," said Pickering.
Shock
"The real Esham Pickering will be back in this fight and Matthew Marsh should not underestimate me because I certainly haven't underestimated him.
"Marsh is going to be up for the fight but he shouldn't be thinking I'm finished - otherwise he will be in for a shock because I can punch three times harder than him."
Marsh admits he was keen to face Pickering after seeing him put in two unconvincing showings against Hughes.
"I've followed Esham's career and I believe he's on his way out," said Marsh, who boxed for England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
"In his last couple of fights, Esham didn't look too impressive so I had no hesitation in taking the fight."
