CHALLENGER Elliott Matthews reckons his opportunity to wrestle the British middleweight title from Trowbridge's champion Nick Blackwell is "like a wedding.''

The Watford man will be in the opposite corner as 'Bang Bang' Blackwell makes the second defence of his Lonsdale belt at Bristol's City Academy on November 14.

Matthews, 34, has been a professional since January 2012, is unbeaten in 16 professional fights and holds the Southern Area middleweight title.

He said: "I wanted to win the British title when I turned pro. That was my main goal. And I've still got the exact same goal today.

“The difference now, though, is that I want to win the British title and then use it as a stepping stone to even bigger things. I want to use it as a starting point. I really think my career will properly take off once I've won the British title on November 14. It will act as a springboard for me.”

Matthews has yet to fight outside London as a pro, but is hoping for some loyal support as he makes his way to the west country..

“I hope a few will come down and support me,” he added. “It's only two hours away. Otherwise I'll be a bit lonely in there on the night. I think they will, though.

“This is the moment I've been working towards since I turned pro. There will be a lot of people who will want to be there to see me do what I've always said I'd do.

“This is like a wedding for me. It's a really big day for me. I'd like to think everyone I know, and all their friends, will turn up to see me become British middleweight champion. And if they can't get down to the venue to watch it live, I hope they'll all be watching it live on Channel 5.”

Blackwell will be a step up for the unbeaten challenger, known as The Knockout King, but he added: “I believe that this fight has come at the right time for me and that everything happens for a reason. If it's meant to be now, it's meant to be now.

“You can't go through life waiting for the perfect time because that time may never come around. All I know is I'm unbeaten, I'm experienced, I'm confident and I'm ready to become British champion. What else do I need?

“I'm going to grab my chance with both hands, give it everything I've got, and I'm sure that my 17 years of hard work and dedication will pay off in the end.

“I feel like it's my time and that Nick Blackwell is an opponent I can beat. I've got no worries about stepping in there.

“When you fight for the British title, you're never going to have an easy night. It's always going to be tough.

“We both want to have that belt and we'll both fight tooth and nail for it. I'm not expecting to blow him over or have an easy night of it. He's certainly going to earn his money, just as I'm going to earn my money. It's going to be a cracking night for everyone.

“When I win that British title, it will make me well up big time. It will be the best feeling in the world.”

Tickets to see Blackwell's title defence are available from the Ticketline Box Office on 0844 888 4402, the Sanigar Events Box Office on 0117 949 6699 or visit hennessysports.com.

Blackwell v Matthews will be televised live and exclusively on Channel 5 from 10pm on November 14, with a pick of the Bristol undercard televised earlier in the evening on Spike.