FORMER SHEFFIELD boxing star Esham Pickering is warning challenger Matthew Marsh not to underestimate him ahead of their British Super-Bantamweight Title fight at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Friday.
Former European and Commonwealth champion and Ingle fighter Pickering (now based full time in Newark, Notts) defends his British Title against Marsh (Welling) on a Hennessy Sports show on Sky TV.
Pickering is determined to put on an eye-catching d
isplay after disappointing nights against Sean Hughes in his last two fights.
Esham was beaten by Hughes on a points decision in a non-title fight, before then getting revenge by late stoppage in a British Title fight.
"A lot of people think I'm finished after my two fights with Sean Hughes, but that was not the real me," said Pickering, who is now trained by Carl Greaves.
"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."
"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."
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