Tony Conquest will fight Ian Tims for the European Cruiserweight title

Tony Conquest is preparing to take on Ian Tims at York Hall for the WBO European Cruiserweight belt

Tony Conquest expects the toughest fight of his pro career on Friday night when he faces Dublin battler Ian Tims for the vacant WBO European Cruiserweight championship at York Hall Bethnal Green.

Unbeaten Conquest has registered nine straight wins and looks forward to his top-of-the-bill clash on Queensberry Promotions’ latest BoxAcademy event and knows the importance of staying undefeated against the man they call ‘The Tank’.

“Victory can set up some championship fights for me,” admits the popular Dagenham fighter, who has always set his sights on winning a Lonsdale belt.

“But frankly I am not looking past the Tims fight. He looks a tough campaigner who fought for years as a top class amateur before chalking up nine straight pro victories.”

That winning streak was ended in January of this year when Tims travelled to Finland and suffered his first defeat, as he lost a tight points verdict against local hero Juho Haapoja for the EBU-EU European title.

“I am expecting a hard battle against an aggressive rival who will be trying to rough me up,” admits Conquest.

“But training has gone so well and I am really confident of coming through this test.”

The fighter, who has had more than his fair share of bad luck with injury and illness problems, is happy to report there has been no recurrence of the hand trouble which has checked his progress in the past.

“My hands have been fine – I have been punching really hard in the gym,” he said.

The 28-year-old ‘Conqueror’ wants to keep busy after his explosive first-round victory over Leon Williams – a revenge win over his former gym pal at the TKO Canning Town, who had stopped Conquest in a London ABA final during their amateur days.

He retained the Southern Area title with that victory on July 7 – the night when he celebrated his 28th birthday – but is hungry for more impressive championship honours.

The promotion, which will be shown live on the BoxNation satellite channel, also features bright young prospects from the TKO Gym – flyweight Charlie Hoy and middleweight Tom Baker alongside John Dignum as they appear in supporting bout action.

Hoy and Baker, who both saw service at West Ham and Repton boxing clubs during their amateur careers when both reached the ABA finals, have chalked up two wins since joining the paid ranks where they are coached by Jimmy and Mark Tibbs.

Dignum, trained by former WBO titleholder Jason Rowland, won his pro debut but then dropped a points verdict against experienced Lee Noble in his second bout.

Joey Taylor and Darryll Williams are also named on the show that features the challenge of Lewis Pettit against Ian Bailey for the Southern Area featherweight belt.