Fat fighter Ben ready for action

Now the 22-year-old is down to just under 12 stone for the big fight - a loss of over five-and-a-half stone in nine months since returning to the sport after a 10-year absence.

The Essington-based fighter had drifted out of boxing before even reaching his teens after a promising amateur career, piling on the pounds in years after as a self-confessed "junk food lover."

Decisive action was taken when he went back to the gym, just to get fit in the first instance.

One snowball effect later and the cusp of the pro ranks beckons.

He said: "I only got back into training just to get my size down and to get fit again. I had boxed in the amateur ranks even before my teens, but I gave it up because I felt I just really wasn't meant for it and got a bit disheartened.

"After that, the weight just piled on. It was not beer or anything like that that really put it on, I have always liked my junk food. But as I got more and more in training, it just fell off. I felt really good and fit, to the point where I thought to myself - 'I am going to give this a real go.'

"Now here we are - and I cannot wait to make my debut at the Civic."

Wilkes has refused to put any targets on his debut year as a pro but admits he has his eyes long-term on what every boxer desires - a tilt at a title.

He said: "Every boxer coming into the pro ranks wants to compete for a title, but I am more concerned with just taking it one fight at a time at this stage. I just want to take it steady and not rush into anything.

"I have not even set myself a target of how many fights I want to get under my belt in the first year. I have trained very hard for this fight and, like every boxer, there's a lot of things I have had to sacrifice."

To be there for the big fight, contact the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.