STEVEN Pearce says he is not fazed by pre-fight hype ahead of his showdown with Ryan Hardy for the vacant British Masters Welterweight crown.

Pearce, from Stourbridge, will be looking to add the title to his International Masters belt and list of titles when he takes on Sheffield’s Hardy on Saturday.

Pearce, 29, recorded a stunning victory at Walsall Town Hall – scene of this weekend’s bout – back in November with a fifth round knock-out of Stafford’s Rob Hunt to lift the International belt. Hardy on the other hand will be looking to bounce back from a first professional defeat in his last outing. The 27-year-old had recorded six straight victories before suffering a points loss at the hands of upcoming prospect, Nathan Dale, also in November.

Hardy has confidently predicted a stoppage victory is on the cards but Pearce, a former Midlands Area Champion, is ready to make him eat his words when the pair go toe-to-toe at Walsall Town Hall this weekend.

“Listening to him I think Ryan thinks he’s won already,” Pearce told uko-boxing.com.

“If he thinks he’s coming into my area and beating me ‘comfortably’ as I heard him say in a radio interview last week, then he will have a bit of a shock on Saturday.

“I do my talking into the ring. He’ll feel my power soon enough. I think he wants to try and turn it into a bit of a war and maybe get under my skin. I’ve been there and saw it all before. I’m not fazed.

“He’s a good boxer and I’m sure he’s a decent lad. I’m a sportsman and I’ll give him respect.

“He’s predicting a stoppage win but he’s never felt power like mine before. I can punch. He can talk all he wants but it won’t help him on fight night when I start teeing off on him.”

Walsall’s Luke Paddock goes in search of British Masters Light Welterweight Bronze honours when he steps in with Stoke’s Kevin Hanks. The home-town light welterweight prospect has recorded five straight victories since turning professional in 2012. At 27, Hanks is five years Paddock’s senior. Walsall’s Midlands Area Cruiserweight Champion, Chris Keane, is also in action for the first time since September as he faces Lithuanian, Igor Borucha. Halesowen super middleweight prospect, Lennox Clarke, takes on Rotherham debutant, Shaun Law, Dudley light middleweight, Kyle Spencer, is also in action whilst Stoke welterweight, Josh McLaren, faces Tamworth’s Matt Seawright..

Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 Ringside, are still available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.