Stretford's Brad Rea ready for European title bout

Rea, 27, and Pitters, 35, will fight over 12 rounds for the vacant European Boxing Union’s light-heavyweight title. Their records are similar with Rea having lost just one of his 21 professional bouts in his seven-year professional career and Pitters losing two of his 22 having joined the paid ranks in 2017.

Managed by Manchester-based promoter Steve Wood, Rea was invited at three days’ notice to box the previous title holder Daniel Dos Santos for this belt in April but faced disappointment when he travelled to London only for his opponent to withdraw at the last minute and thereby forfeit the title.

"Nothing’s easy in this game," said Rea, who has been training under Andy Abrol at Blackpool’s SharpstyleGym for the last two years.

"I was scheduled to box in Riyadh early this year and that fell through although I did get over there. Then the Dos Santos bout fell through. This match with Pitters was to take place in Ireland with some supporters having bought tickets and then it looked like that might fall through before it got re-arranged for Hull.

"This takes a mental toll, but I’m convinced this is the fight I’ve always wanted, and my preparation’s been at a whole new level with intensive sparring and one-to-one training. It’s my first 12-rounder and my first time boxing since I defeated Adam Hepple with a third-round stoppage in Bolton last November. It’s time to get back in."

Meanwhile other boxers managed by Wood have found success on a recent show in Bolton arranged by Wood’s VIP Promotions including welterweight Harry Martin who, like Rea, hails from Stretford.

Former Wellacre Academy student Martin whose fight alias is Hatchett began his professional career just last autumn and has now clocked up three victories including the latest over Jake Osgood.

Martin, 22, lives at home with his parents and has one older brother. ‘I didn’t always intend necessarily to become a professional boxer. Alex Murphy from our club has won all 11 of his professional bouts so I thought it was about time that I got my name out there. My dad coaches at our club Eccles Boxing School and he’s always encouraging me and it’s my personal ambition to become world champion."

Also winning their bouts were Manchester’s Zelfa Barrett fighting at lightweight whose defeat of Mexican Cristian Bielma was his 32nd win in an 11-year career and Salford’s Yousif Saeed who defeated Paul Scaife to earn his fourth professional victory and first stoppage.

Like Martin, Saeed has yet to drop a point in the paid ranks. Ashley Marron defeated his Cumbrian opponent Callum Pearson to win his first scheduled eight round fight with a fifth round stoppage.

Brad Rea understands that since 15-round bouts were abandoned in the 1980s, a 12-round bout is the ultimate test a box faces.

Northern boxing supporters will look forward to Lancastrian Rea proving victorious and can watch the Hull show organised by South Yorkshire promoter Issy Asif on DAZN.