STEPHEN FOSTER JR will be rewarded with a three week holiday in Jamaica if he successfully defends his European super-featherweight title this weekend. Salford’s Foster Jr makes the first defence of his crown against Belgian Ermano Fegatilli in the Premier Suite at Bolton’s Reebok Arena tomorrow night (26th February).
And provided he beats his mandatory contender, trainer Maurice Core will take Foster Jr on the Caribbean break next week along with his Moss Side gym mates.
Foster Jr said: “I am not even thinking of the holiday because this is a very tough fight against a slick opponent.
“Maurice will bring it up when we are training hard and when I need that extra push he’ll tell me ‘think of Jamaica’, and I give it a little bit more.
“All I ever do is train so the holiday is a great opportunity to unwind and get away from boxing.”
Former British light-heavyweight champion Core added: “His dad still likes me to keep an eye on Steve so I might have to share a room to make sure he behaves.
“The 21 days is great for us and there is no talk of boxing until we get back when it is straight in to training again.”
Foster won the European crown last year with a chilling three round KO of Levan Kirakosyan and is now in a hurry.
He added: “People see me and still think I am still young kid, but I am a 30 year-old man and ready for the very best 130lb fighters.”
In the chief support unbeaten St Helens fighter Craig Lyon makes the first defence of his English bantamweight crown against Barnsley’s Josh Wale.
Former World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight champion Robin Reid makes a ring return on the bill when he boxes Jamie Ambler over four rounds.
Unbeaten British Olympian Joe Murray faces his toughest test so far against Frenchman Daniel Kodjo Sassou who recently extended Scott Quigg
Others hopefuls on the undercard include Belarusian star Sergey Rabchenko tackles former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Martin Concepcion, Kieron Maher faces Lester Walsh, Richard Towers meets Daniel Bispo, Adam Etches faces Estonian hopeful Aleksei Tsatiasivili , Dezzie Higginson boxes Robin Deakin and Jack Perry meet a selected opponent.
Tickets for’ Night of Champions’ £35, £55 (Ringside) and £75 VIP Ringside, www.brandhatton.com /0844 847 2500/0161 775 7500