WELTERWEIGHT Chris Higgs can fulfil a lifelong dream by bringing a British title belt back to the Forest on Friday night.

The 24-year-old from Lydney (pictured) will headline the KM Promotions show at the GL1 Leisure Centre on Saturday night.

Higgs has notched 10 straight wins since turning professional in 2008, but describes his British Masters title showdown with Walsall's Joel Ryan as the 'biggest of his career'.

Higgs is entering new territory with the fight scheduled to last 10 rounds. The former Junior Olympian says the longer distance will not faze him.

"I can't wait for this fight," he said.

"It has always been my dream to lift a title and now that chance is here.

"Of course I will be nervous before the fight but that's a good thing.

"I've never been in a 10-round fight before but I'm fit enough – I've been training two or three times a day."

Walsall rival Ryan has won two out of his four pro fights, but has always taken on good opponents.

Higgs said: "However fit he is I will be fitter.

"No one trains harder than me and because I want this title so badly I will do everything I can to beat Joel Ryan. It is going to be a great atmosphere and I should have great support behind me so I cannot let anyone down.

"I'm so desperate to make my fans proud. I can't wait for that first bell to ring."

Saturday's show will be the first night of professional boxing in Gloucester since 1989.

Gloucester super-middleweight Johnny Melfah headlined the last show in the city's leisure centre.

Promoter Keith Mayo said: "We've sold more than 1,000 tickets and I'm confident we'll make it a sell-out."

SUPER heavyweight Andy Rowbotham travelled to the Abbey Hulton Sports & Social Club in Stoke to fight Moss Side's Peter Edafe.

Both boxers took heavy shots, with Rowbotham catching Edafe with a cracking right-hand in the second round.

Edafe came back strongly, but Lydney's Rowbotham won a majority decision.

Thirteen-year-old Dan Mason from Lydney also boxed well to beat Bilal Ahmed (Meir ABC) on a unanimous decision.