Pickering: I'm still Britain's No 1

Hennessy Sports26th June, 2008

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, 27th June 2008.

Former European and Commonwealth champion Pickering (Newark) defends his British Title against Pickering (Welling) on what promises to be a thrilling Hennessy Sports show in association with GoldenPalace.net at the home of British boxing with Sky Sports televising the action live.

Hennessy Sports boxer Pickering is determined to put on an eye-catching display 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 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."