Biggest night of Sheffield/Dronfield boxer's career

It was during their amateur fight careers, and Langford was stopped by Sheffield’s Liam Cameron, who went on to be crowned ABA champion.

Now Taylor, Dronfield’s English middleweight champion, is hoping to repeat the feat, on Saturday.

He takes on unbeaten professional Langford to contest the Commonwealth title and the WBO Inter-Continental belt, on live TV.

“It is the biggest fight of my life” says Taylor - “the biggest show, biggest venue and best undercard. It is a great opportunity, gets me up there and puts me in front of a lot of people. I need to make a statement so it will open some doors.

“The fight was put back for four weeks and it has been a long camp, I want to get it over with now.”

Taylor and Langford, both aged 26, lock horns at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, on the undercard, of Terry Flanagan v Derry Mathews WBO World lightweight title, screened by Boxnation.

The Derbyshire man expects a lively night with his Birmingham-based opponent.

“He is a good boxer, stays at range and looks to pick you off with his shots. He’s a big kid, sharp and fast. But I don’t think he has been in with people with the pedigree that I have.

“He will probably be busy for the first three or four rounds and I will have to stay on him, then I will be taking over after that.”

Taylor, who has lost only one of his 20 fights has two knockouts from his last four fights and is in great physical condition.

“I have just done 12 round hard sparring with three kids in Hull and I am ready to show what I can do” he said.

Langford, originally from Devon, has 15 straight wins, five of them by stoppage.

n Sheffield’s Sam Matkin is the new Central Area super lightweight champion after outpointing Adam Little at Liverpool, last weekend.