KAAN Hawes knows that he is putting his unbeaten professional record on the line when he steps up for the prestigious Ultimate Boxxer show tomorrow.

However, the Witham boxer is fully backing himself to shine when he steps into the ring at the high-profile show at the Indigo at the O2 in London on Friday night.

The 32-year-old, who is a former Witham Cricket Club captain and Witham Town Football Club player, knows it is is a superb opportunity for him to showcase himself in front of a nationwide television audience.

Hawes will come into the show, which will be screened live to a national television audience by BT Sport, with an unbeaten professional record after claiming his fifth victory in the pro ranks when he gained a points win against Chris Jenkinson at the Brentwood Centre in March.

It means he has now won five and drawn one of his six professional bouts and while he knows he is putting that record on the line among a high-class line-up at the third instalment of Ultimate Boxxer, Hawes knows he has the quality to keep it intact.

He said: "I'm under no illusions over how tough this is going to be as they are all good boxers (in the line-up), but I want to be challenged and go as far as I can.

"I know there are risks but that is the same with any fight you go into.

"I just want to take every opportunity that comes my way and to be the best that I can be.

"So this is an amazing chance for me.

"I would not have entered into it if I didn't think I could win it.

"It's a big ask as it's the type of competition that everything has to go right on the night, but as long as I perform to the ability that I know I have got, then I'm confident I can be the winner at the end."

The competition pits eight highly-rated up-and-coming middleweight fighters against each other.

Hawes' opening fight on the night will be a tough one against Northampton's Kieron Conway, who, in bringing a record of ten straight professional wins into the event - including one on the undercard of Amir Khan - is tipped as the favourite for the title.

If he gets past Conway over three rounds, the Witham man will fight a semi-final bout for a place in the final and the chance to be crowned winner of the third Ultimate Boxxer contest.

The competition carries a prize purse of £50,000 and the televised nature of it means it is a perfect chance for the eight fighters to showcase themselves on a big stage.

Also included in the eight-man line-up is Clacton's Joe Hurn and Tey-Lynn Jones from Basildon.

Hawes said: ‘All the other boys are very good.

"They’ve only got a handful of losses between them so they’ll all arrive confident.

"We all need a bit of luck on the night to avoid cuts and injuries but I’d not have entered if I didn’t think I could win it, providing I perform at my best.

"Others question why I’ve put my unbeaten record at risk but I prefer to view it as a great opportunity that, if I’m successful, can increase my profile and lead to TV fights; all the stuff you train so hard for."

He added: "There’s some very good technicians in the tournament and I doubt I’m going to be able to outbox them.

"But though some of the lads have been involved in far longer fights and I think that might prove detrimental to them.

"I’m more used to short, fast-paced explosive fights.

‘I’m a come forward pressure fighter who guarantees non-stop action.

"I’ll bring it all.

"I’ll be taking a lot of fans because my fights are always exciting.

"I’ve never been in a dull fight."