TRAINER Gary Lockett is predicting that his new charge Nick Blackwell will finally be crowned British middleweight champion tomorrow night.

The Cardiff-based coach, a world title-challenging 30-2 middleweight himself during his days in the ring, has taken Trowbridge’s ‘Bang Bang’ under his wing ahead of his crunch clash with John Ryder this weekend.

Lockett, who trains former WBO cruiserweight world champion Enzo Maccarinelli and also guided lightweight Gavin Rees to the British and European titles, doesn’t see any reason why Blackwell won’t triumph.

“Sky (Sports) phoned and asked me ‘what do you think about Ryder being the slight favourite?’ and I said ‘that’s probably right’ but only because of recent form,” said Lockett.

“Whereas I think John’s a really solid fighter, he’s neither a huge puncher or a master boxer.

“I’m not paying him a disservice saying that but there’s nothing that Nick really has to be afraid of.

“I think he’s lost to better people. Martin Murray and Billy Joe Saunders are better than John Ryder and Nick pushed Billy Joe very close. He was robbed blind against (Max) Bursak and he got robbed against (Sergey) Khomitsky and I think it’s going to be third time lucky.

“For Nick’s last two fights, I think he was doing too much strength work. He got a bit heavy and was relying on his defence too much, walking forward and taking punches on the gloves and not really returning.

“I haven’t tried to change Nick – I’ve tried to add a few things and make him mindful of the fact that he doesn’t have to walk forward. He’s got other things than tough-guy tactics and defence.

“Mark Kent (Contender Gym trainer) did a really good job right from the start but Nick said ‘I want you to get the best out of me’ and the first thing I said was ‘believe in yourself and believe in your technical skills because you have got them’.

“Alex Hughes is a special talent that boxes with a (Floyd) Mayweather or (Adrien) Broner style and Liam Williams is a Commonwealth champion. He’s holding his own with these guys – not just in sparring terms but on a technical level. He’s going to be British champion.”

FOLLOW ALL THE LIVE UPDATES, NEWS & REACTION FROM THE BLACKWELL FIGHT,  WITH DAN BARNES AT THE O2 ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT AND ON TWITTER @WTSPORT. FIGHT DUE TO START FROM AROUND 6.30-7PM