WHO needs birthday cake when you can have chicken and broccoli?

Nick Blackwell celebrated turning 25 this week but as has become the norm for Trowbridge’s middleweight ace, there was no overindulgence as he prepares for the second defence of his British title next month.

‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell puts his coveted Lonsdale strap on the line against Elliott Matthews at Bristol’s City Academy on Saturday, November 14, and despite much of the pre-fight talk centring around current British number one Chris Eubank Jr, the Wiltshire champion insists he’s fully focused on his unbeaten Watford challenger.

Part of that determined focus has been staying in the best shape possible during his training camp, leaving Blackwell to put any birthday festivities firmly on hold.

“A few of my mates came down on Tuesday and we had a bit of food but it was just a bit of chicken and broccoli for me,” said the Trowbridge fighter, who trains under Gary Lockett in Cardiff.

“I haven’t celebrated my birthday on the actual day of my birthday since I started boxing and I’ll have to wait until after I’ve hopefully beaten this guy this year.

“I did watch Eubank’s fight (a second-round stoppage of Tony Jeter) on Saturday but I’m not looking past this fight with Elliott Matthews – I’d be stupid to do that.

“I’ve trained just as hard as I always do for every fight and I always act like I’m the underdog.

“Matthews is going to be a good fighter. He’s a southpaw and he’s been ten rounds before but like Damon Jones (who Blackwell stopped in July), has he been in with anyone good?

“It’s a 12-round fight and we’ll see how fit he is. How will he do against someone that’s going to take what he’s got and keep coming at him?”

Blackwell is also hoping that fighting in the south west will allow more of his local fans to be there to support his title defence.

‘Bang Bang’ added: “I’ve sold a lot more tickets than I usually do for this fight, so hopefully a lot of people will come because it’s not far away.”