Anthony Upton hopes his Belfast return will kick off a busy year of action in 2018.
Former English light-welterweight champion Upton (16-1, 6KOs) will fight on a "Danger at The Devenish 3" bill, promoted by Ginley Promotions, at the Devenish Complex on February 10.
The 25-year-old recently relocated to Belfast after a spell back in England last year and had been due to fight at the same venue last month before his scheduled opponent, Nicaraguan Miguel Aguilar, came in overweight ahead of the December bout.
MTK Global moved quickly to book a new fight date for the Belfast-Londoner, who defeated another Nicaraguan, Santos Medrano, two weeks later.
But the youngest of the three fighting brothers is keen to return to the small-hall Devenish show before turning his attention to bigger ambitions.
“I’m really happy to be back boxing in Belfast again. I want to be busy because I’m definitely feeling sharp now after having the fight before Christmas,” said Upton.
“My opponent came in overweight for the last [Devenish] fight, so it obviously wasn’t my fault, but fair play to MTK for sorting me out and getting me out within two weeks in Scotland. It was great to get a win to end the year.
“I’ve told MTK that I want to be busy. There was a lot of ups and downs for me last year because I didn’t know where I was going really. I want to be busier this year and get out as regularly as possible. I’m happy they have got me a fight on February 10th. That will be a nice little run-out,” continued Upton, who is now training under the Ginley brothers in Belfast.
And the 25-year-old is considering a move down in weight if an attractive opportunity comes up.
“I’m at light-welter, but I might even take a trip down to lightweight because my weight’s not too far off making it, so I’ll see what options are out there. If there’s a big enough fight then I’d consider it,” said Upton.
“I know everyone wants to get out on the big bills, but I just really want to get on one of them and I feel that’s where I’ll shine and where I can show people how good I am.
“I’ll fight anyone, I don’t care who it is, I’m ready for it as long as I get a few weeks' notice. I’m not ducking anyone – whoever wants it will get it!”
