It is what it is. A phrase that Britsh and Commonwealth Welterweight champion Chris Jenkins (22-3-2, 8 KOs) uses often and for good reason.

Whether it’s getting cut in more fights than he should, taking fights as late as ten days notice, losing fights on points that he thought he won… it is what it is. Five words built on a career of hard luck, tough battles and questioning whether or not the rub of the green would ever come his way.

Jenkins is now staring at the possibility of winning the British title outright which will be a challenge two thirds completed should he beat Liam Taylor tonight in Birmingham.

Frank Warren’s card is littered with intriguing prospects, three well matched British title tussles and a world title fight at the end of the night on BT Sport featuring the craft and hearts of Zolani Tete and John Riel Casimero.

“I’m not going to travel to Birmingham to lose, not just one belt but two belts. I’m going to put a show on before Christmas and end the year with a bang,” says Jenkins.

The 31-year-old is a hardened component of the domestic 147lbs scene in Britain and one that is full throttle in the ring and outside it. Fighter, self-employed, father of three, life never stops for Jenkins and his wife who work together as a team to ensure that they are both there for their little ones while ensuring they themselves get enough time to do what they need to do outwith parenthood.

“When I’ve got to go training I’ve got to go training. She puts whatever she has to do on hold until I get back. Everything gets done. We work together. It does work but it is mental at the end of the day, especially having three kids, training and house work and stuff. It’s a good balance though. It’s alright.”

Jenkins doesn’t do life the easy way. He doesn’t do boxing the easy way either. Never one to say no to a fight the Welshman has taken on hard men in the ring, the type that meet him head on - sometimes literally causing the cuts he has become famous for. He fought in Eddie Hearn’s once loved Prizefighter. He took on seasoned British title level fighters in Tyrone Nurse, Akeem Ennis-Brown and Johnny Garton. Then there was the trips to Belfast to take on Philip Sutcliffe Jr and Paddy Gallagher in 2016 and 2019. A rough route of blood, sacrifice and eventually falling out of love with the sport before joining up with Gary Lockett a few years ago.

“I never have an easy fight do I,” joked Jenkins. “At the end of the day there are so many fighters out there who avoid fights. Not mentioning no names but their promoters, managers want to go different routes but with myself if I get offered a fight I take it. There were times when nothing was happening in my career and I had to provide so I had to take fights at short notice.

“I could do with tick over fights when I’ve been so inactive for so long. You’ve still got to work though. Now with me being British and Commonwealth champion I’m not going to have an easy fight until I lose. I don’t want to do that because it’s taken four years to get to where I am now.”

In his opponent for tonight, Liam Taylor, Jenkins sees a man who has waited for his opportunity, someone who will have fire in his belly and someone who has got good feet but…

“I think technically I’m a better boxer than him and wiser in the ring than him.”

A win against Taylor and a successful third British title defence in February/March, he hopes, gives him the prestigious Lonsdale belt outright.

“I’ve always said I’m a British level fighter. I excel in what I do. I keep my feet grounded. I don’t get ahead of myself. I want to win it outright because it’s the nicest belt in boxing you could probably have bar the WBC world title belt but I’m not good enough for that.” A revealing moment of honesty that you don’t often get from fighters. Reality doesn’t bite Jenkins. He gets on with it. It is what it is.