THE BRIGHT lights of Las Vegas are beckoning for Brighton heavyweight Nick Webb if he can impress in front of the cameras tomorrow night.
Hard-hitting Webb fights on the undercard of the Spike TV televised George Groves clash with Eduard Gutknecht at Wembley’s SSE Arena.
And the knockout specialist has been handed a massive incentive to produce the ninth win of his career against Croatian Ivica Perkovic.
Trainer and manager Scott Welch revealed: “If Nick can get through this fight, and look good, then we have been told he will fight on the Carl Frampton card in Vegas.
“This is massive for us and the plan for Nick is to keep looking better and better with every fight.”
Northern Irishman Frampton will defend his WBA world featherweight title against Léo Santa Cruz at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on January 28 and exposure on that card for Webb would do wonders for his career.
Frampton is managed by former world champion Barry McGuigan, who runs Cyclone Promotions.
Friday’s fight will be Webb’s second appearance on a Cyclone Promotions bill in a few weeks, having boxed on the undercard of Josh Taylor’s Commonwealth super-lightweight title victory last month in Edinburgh.
And McGuigan says Webb will bank more vital experience from another taste of big time boxing on the Groves card.
McGuigan, who was watched by a television audience of 20 million when he became world featherweight champion in June 1985 when he beat Eusebio Pedroza, said: “It’s important that he gains experience by fighting on big bills like this one.
“Boxer’s learn so much by being involved in big nights and November 18 is just that.
“There are three title fights and a British welterweight title eliminator on the bill and Nick will benefit from being part of it all.
“I know that (trainer) Scott very much believes that Nick can go a long way in this sport and Nick has already proved in his recent performances that it is going to be an exciting ride. I’m looking forward to seeing his progression.”
Webb said: “I’ve had a great and explosive year so far and fought on some big shows, gaining a lot of experience. It will be my third appearance at the Arena and I’m improving every time I box there.”
Webb, who is mentored by Brighton’s former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Welch, is unbeaten in eight professional fights with seven coming inside the distance.
He had been down to box on the undercard of Nicky Jenman’s unsuccessful Southern Area title defence last Saturday night but Welch could not run the risk of him picking up an injury ahead of this Friday’s appearance in London.
Webb’s last fight saw him make short work of Croatia’s Jakov Gospic but Perkovic (54-22-32), another Croatian, could prove a sterner test over six rounds. Perkovic went the full six rounds with up and coming heavyweight Sean Turner in Belfast a couple of weeks ago.
Brighton’s Lloyd Ellett is also gearing up for a major fight as he will meet Ted Cheeseman on November 26 at Wembley’s SSE Arena in front of the Sky Sports cameras in an English super-welterweight title eliminator.
Matchroom have confirmed Ellett, who has just one defeat on his 21-fight record, will meet their hot prospect in just his seventh fight.
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