Danny Connor and Tony Owen are putting friendship aside and promising fireworks at the 02 Arena on Saturday night.

The pair both hail from Sutton and have known each other for more than 10 years having trained together at Rosehill ABC.

But all that will be forgotten when Owen steps into the ring to challenge Connor for his Southern Area light welterweight belt on the undercard of the professional debut for Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua.

Connor in particular has been vocal in his approach to the fight and is adamant he will retain his title.

“I promise you this – on October 5 I guarantee I’ll still be the champion,” he said.

“Tony’s got more chance of winning the Euromillions than beating me.

“It should be renamed Fireworks Night because I’ll be letting off some big rockets, straight at Tony Owen’s chin.

“I want it too bad to lose. I want this more than I wanted the Evangelou fights and Prizefighter.

“This is my world title fight and I’ll prove with my fists that I’m the better man with the bigger balls.”

Owen though is taking the high road in his build-up.

“I haven’t said anything and I am not saying anything now,” he said.

“All I will say is I am 100 per cent and if Danny is too then there will be fireworks.”

Connor is a year older than Owen at 27 and has a 10-6-1 record that boast wins against Tyler Goodjohn and Chris Evangelou and he reached the finals of a  Prizefighter tournament.

Owen though does boast the better 14-2-0 record having won his first 12 professional fights before losing the last two.

Tickets for the show can be bought by calling 07568 347755.