LIAM Conroy is ready to take his boxing career to the next level.

Victory for the Barrow fighter over Joel McIntyre in Saturday’s English light-heavyweight title bout will open the door for a shot at the British title.

That would be a remarkable achievement for the 25-year-old Conroy, who goes into the fight as the challenger and the underdog.

McIntyre has won 16 of his 17 fights and the Portsmouth man will be a lot closer to home when he enters the ring at York Hall, Bethnal Green.

But Conroy will not be short of support in London, with more than 50 fans making the journey south from Barrow.

And a run of six consecutive victories - in which he has picked up three titles - means Conroy and his Preston-based trainer Johnney Roye will be quietly confident.

“It’s going to be a big step-up from the opponents I have faced before, but it’s a step-up I’m ready for,” Conroy said recently.

“He has done the distance before – 10-round title fights – so it’s going to be a hard 10 rounds, but I feel its going to be the best you will have seen of me and I’ll move up another gear.”

Conroy is in tip-top condition and his thorough preparations have included sessions with Team Fury, who were camped in the Lake District during the summer ahead of Hughie Fury’s WBO World Heavyweight clash with Joseph Parker in Manchester this month.

Elsewhere, one of Conroy’s former Brook Street stablemates, Callum Pearson, kick-started his professional career with victory at the weekend. Pearson beat Sean Gorman in a super-welterweight bout at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse.

The 25-year-old has not been in action since losing his debut on points to William Warburton more than a year ago. But Pearson made no mistake against Gorman as he won convincingly to taste victory for the first time as a professional.

Meanwhile, Ross Cooksey – the third of Barrow ABC head coach Jeff Moses’ “92 kids” to have turned professional – is next in action at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena on Saturday, October 14 against an as-yet-unknown opponent.

Cooksey has started his pro career in fine fashion, with two wins out of out two under the guidance of Jimmy Egan’s Manchester stable.