Underdog warning for Sheffield world champ Kell Brook

And he has warned his friend Kell Brook to avoid his mistake when the IBF welterweight world champion meets rank underdog Kevin Bizier at Sheffield Arena on Saturday.

Etches lost his unbeaten record when he was decked by Sergey Khomitsky at the venue, on Brook’s undercard in Maylast year.

Now Etches is bouncing back as one of the support bouts on the Bizier show, fighting Brazilian Jefferson Luiz De Sousa.

While he is anxious to do put in a stellar performance himself, he spares a thought for Brook, who is heavily backed to dispense with the Canadian.

“I don’t think Kell will under-estimate him for a moment” said Etches. “But these kinds of fight always carry a risk factor. Bizier is here for a world title and will be operating at 150%. I think Kell will win well, but the biggest mistake would be to unde-estimate his opponent and think he’ll just smash him.

“If you said to Kell he was fighting Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman or Manny Pacquiao, Kell would be even better than he is now because of the fear factor. I suppose there were warning signs at the last press conference (Bramall Lane) when people were looking beyond Bizier and talking about Amir Khan as a possible opponent for Kell.

“That makes this (Bizier) dangerous. If you put my nannan in the ring, she’d be dangerous if you under-estimated her.

“Every boxer’s dream is to be the world champion - Bizier will be game as a badger. He will think he will find something, somewhere, which will help him win.”

Etches has sparred with Brook at the Ingle gym and has also traded punches with unbeaten Leeds middleweight Reece Cartwright and Belarussian Sergey Rabchenko.

He cannot wait for the big night on the Matchroom show.

“I don’t know if I am chief support, but in my mind I will be, I certainly have a better support than Luke Campbell,” said Etches.

“I have had no injury problems, nothing to complain about. All the doom and gloom has gone since my loss and if you asked me how quickly I’d like a fight after March 26, Id say the 27th if I am in one piece.

“I have been quiet and on the missing list, but I need to get back up the ladder so people are talking about me again.

“I have to prove a point and make a statement.

“The Khomitsky fight still frustrates me, I thought I had won it before I got in the ring. I thought I could beat him with one hand. But it was a wake-up call for me. Things like that make you or break you.”