Droylsden boxer Gardner has his eyes on a massive prize

Droylsden boxer Kane Gardner is preparing for the biggest fight of his professional career.

The super lightweight, who is trained by Droylsden Amateur Boxing Club's Ian Harrison, will be hoping to pack a punch at the BOXXER Series event on Saturday, November 6 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

Known in the ring as 'Sugar Kane', the 26-year-old is one of eight fighters going head-to-head for the ultimate prize - £40,000 for the winner -  in three, three minute rounds.

The new event format, which will be shown live on Sky Sports, is making its debut on the evening and will then be staged in every major UK city. The series has been developed to showcase grassroots talent on the biggest television platform in British boxing.

Gardner, who made his professional debut in 2017, has enjoyed a successful career with 11 wins and one defeat. A points loss to Ben Fields in 2019 has since been followed up with two wins against Jamie Quinn and Jordan Ellison.

The upcoming bout will be Gardner's first appearance in the ring since 2019 due to Covid-related issues, and whilst he can't prepare for one individual fighter on the evening, Harrison has every faith in his protégé's ability. Speaking to Reporter Sport ahead of the fight, Harrison, who we spoke to last week about the club's Food and Toy Appeal, said: "We've been hoping and praying that an opportunity like this would come along. Kane was in training for ten weeks because he had a central area fight in Liverpool against Nathan Bennett - the second time it had been rescheduled - but unfortunately, Nathan contracted Covid and was out of the gym for three or four weeks. His manager, Steve Wood, contacted myself and told me that he was going to put Kane forward into the BOXXER Series event.

"The money for the Central Area fight was ok, but the money to be won from this event is massive, and for Kane to win it would make his life."

Elsewhere at Droylsden ABC, John Kiely, who has been with the club since he was 13, has also turned professional and won his first bout against Jake Bray on September 11. The super welterweight is now looking forward to his next fight on November 27 at the Bolton Whites Hotel. 

Ahead of the event on November 6, BOXXER founder Ben Shalom said: "Our grassroots tournaments have always been hugely popular but to bring this new event series to Sky Sports is a dream come true. We believe the events will be hugely popular for a mass audience and bring something very positive to the sport of boxing in Britain.

"The BOXXER Series is about making boxing accessible to everyone. Short-form professional boxing is fast-paced and a great introduction to the sport we love."

Picture: @BOXXER