Battle royal for British title decider

If Little wins, it will be the biggest scalp of his career to date and his confidence will be through the roof after September’s ruthless demolition of Martin Gethin in Blackpool.

At the time, it was such a bad beating it appeared that Gethin had nowhere further to go in the fight game.

However, Gethin confounded such pessimistic thoughts in sensational style when he boxed on, winning his next two contests, the second of which was a shock dismantling of John Wayne Hibbert.

The man who is in both fighters’ sights at the DW Stadium in Wigan is Tyrone Nurse, who is currently the ruler of the British super-lightweights.

Foot will be a tough foe for he has fought battles both in and out of the ring.

The Sunderland boxer’s career very nearly came to an untimely close three years ago when he was horrifically injured in a street attack with a machete.

Relaying the wince-inducing details, Foot said: “I needed a plate in my arm and my tendons had been sliced.

“The surgeon said I’d never box again.

“But I never gave up and I kept my arm working and before I knew it, I could make a fist again.”

Both Little and Foot have only suffered one defeat in their professional career and tonight’s encounter has all the makings of an engrossing contest in front of a sellout audience.

Little says he knows all about what is coming from Foot and insists he will be able to adapt himself, depending on what style Foot dishes up.

The North Eastern boxer countered: “I will do what I do best, sicken him with punches.

“I will box, fight, whatever it takes.”

Little said: “I am always thinking about what strategy to use to beat another boxer.

“That is the part of boxing that I enjoy. There are a number of different ways that I will be able to stop him.”

Little weighed in at 10-stone, and Foot 9st 13 pounds, eight ounces

Also on tonight’s bill is unbeaten Kirkham heavyweight Bill Hodgson.