BIRTHDAY BOY MAUGHAN HOPES FOR A DOUBLE CELEBRATION

The Nottingham favourite gets his second crack at the Emerald Isle’s crown at Northampton’s historic The Deco, but he’ll have reason to cheer before the opening bell sounds as the fight falls on his birthday.

“This is like a world title shot to me and it’s come on the day I turn 31,” he said.

“I’ve already had one crack at it, but this time I intend on grabbing it with both hands. I’ve been gifted a second opportunity to win it and it means everything to me, especially as it’s my birthday.

“Of course it’s St George’s Day as well, but being from an Irish family I’m going to celebrate like it’s St Patrick’s Day because I missed the real day last month as I was in the gym training for this fight.”

By day Maughan works as a pharmacy dispenser, but come Saturday night he’ll be looking to hand out punishment rather than remedies.

“My job’s weird in that all day I give drugs to people with ailments and then at night I get in a ring and punch people,” he said.

“I’m confident that I can get my punches off on Upton but I’m not going to disrespect him and say I’ll do this and that because, at the end of the day, he’s in boxing with the same ambitions I’ve got.

“I haven’t seen any footage of him, but I read in an interview that he was an Irish champion as an amateur so he’s got the pedigree and obviously he’s trained by Ricky Hatton, a legend in boxing, so he must be decent.

“I know I’ll be up against it, but I intend to go in there and do the business. I’ve had a good camp and I’m ready.”

Upton v Maughan tops a quality bill also featuring former amateur stars Zach Parker and Reuben Arrowsmith.

Tickets are priced at £30, £35 and £40 and can be purchased from any fighter on the bill or by calling 07718 324102.