DETERMINED Lee Cutler declared he was “willing to do anything” to showcase his skills back on the big stage – and is “absolutely buzzing” the chance has come on his doorstep.
The man nicknamed ‘Chaos’ is set to fight Tanzanian puncher Meshack Mwankemwa on the undercard to Chris Billam-Smith’s European and Commonwealth title defence at the BIC on Saturday.
The last time Dorset’s Cutler fought on Sky Sports, he was stopped in the opening round against unbeaten Brad Rea at Wembley Arena in March 2021.
But with three knockout wins since and another chance to showcase his skills to a global audience, Cutler is eager to take the opportunity.
He told the Daily Echo: “I am absolutely buzzing. You can’t get a better place than Bournemouth and do it with my friends in Joe Pigford and Chris Billam-Smith, who has been a close friend for a long time.
“Bringing big-time boxing down to the south coast. I feel proud to be part of it and it’s going to go down in history.
“Because it’s never happened before it was like ‘is it ever going to happen?’. I was willing to do anything to get back on TV platforms, whether it was Manchester, London, anywhere.
“The fact that it has come down here very fast, with thanks to K4 Global matching up with Boxxer, I am absolutely buzzing for it.
“It’s going to build my profile massively. Sky Sports, you can’t get a bigger profile for that – for football, for anything really.
“This fight means a lot to me. I have got to really perform on the night. It’s pressure because it’s my hometown but I am ready for it. I have been training for it and I can’t wait.”
Asked how tough it was to get over his only loss as a professional and bounce back, latterly winning the Southern Area title at super welterweight, the 26-year-old said: “It was tough at the start but in this game you take risks. I know what risks we take.
“It was just a learning experience for me. There were a few issues leading up to it. No excuses, I lost to a good lad on that night.
“I have corrected what I believe was wrong and hopefully now I am in my hometown, I am going to show what I am capable of.”
The show itself is set to be packed full of up-and-coming stars, including the likes of unbeaten Caroline Dubois and Hassan Azim.
Quizzed on what fans could expect to see from him, Cutler replied: “A clinical, explosive performance.
“My opponent looks quite tough, so if he wants to bring it to me, I am going to put on a great boxing performance.
“If he tries to get away and I have hurt him. I will try to get him out of there – it’s about entertaining the fans.
“People have spent a lot of money. I have sold a lot of tickets, so I want to get in there, get the win and look clinical doing it.”
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