Christopher Keane is the 'underdog'

Walsall's Christopher Keane today admitted he's the "underdog" when he takes on fellow former amateur star Stephen Simmons at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Keane, the 2009 senior ABA super heavyweight champion, meets the bronze medallist from the 2010 Commonwealth Games on June 22.

Both are undefeated since becoming professionals although Keane has two more fights experience and 'turned over' two years earlier, in 2009.

But Scotsman Simmons, 27, has fought at a higher level as an amateur and featured for Team GB, while Keane boxed just once for England.

However, when they go toe-to-toe at the Civic - live on BoxNation -the two highly-promising cruiserweights should make an ideal match.

And Keane is ready to accept he may not be the favourite to to walk away from the 10-round contest with his '0' intact.

He said: "You have got to fight top lads to get to the top. The quicker I do that, the quicker I will get to where I need to be.

"I know he's a very, very good lad, he's bigger and has a little more amateur experience. Really, I am the underdog in this fight.

"He's got a very good jab, decent power and a variety of shots, he's big and strong and will come forward.

"Let's see what happens, my speed has worked when I have boxed bigger lads before and, hopefully, it will again.

"The pressure is there but I need to stay relaxed in there, the punches will just flow then."

Keane won an ABA title, fought for his country and turned pro all in the space of five months, between May and September 2009.

It ended his dreams of going to the Olympics but, even with London 2012 on the horizon, the 26-year-old is refusing to have regrets.

He said: "Maybe I could have been going to the Olympics now and we will never know, but choices have been made.

"I can't go back now, so there's no use in me crying over it. I just take it all in my stride."

For more information and tickets, call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.