Barrow's Liam Conroy spent much of his formative years under the tutelage of Jeff Moses, who is delighted to see his perseverance get its reward with a European title fight against former sparring partner Steven Ward.

Conroy learned a lot of his trade under Moses at Barrow ABC and he still visits his old gym when he returns to his hometown, with him training these days under Preston-based Johnney Roye.

The 26-year-old has had to overcome plenty of adversity recently, with injuries robbing him of almost a year of career before his comeback fight against Joshua Buatsi in March.

He lost that bout for the British title inside three rounds, but he's quickly earned an opportunity for the vacant WBO light heavyweight belt.

Moses said: "Whatever is put in front of Liam, ever since he was a kid with me and all the way through his senior and his pro bouts that he had with me, any little hiccup, he will never pack it in.

"He'll keep going and he'll keep going until he's achieved what he's wanted to achieve and that's where he's at now.

"If he gets a bad decision or if he gets knocked back, then he always stays positive and thinks 'next time I'm going to put it right, let's crack on.'

"That's why he keeps coming back time after time."

It is that single-mindedness that leaves Moses to believe his former pupil will take what is likely to be a hostile atmosphere at Belfast's Ulster Hall in his stride.

He said: "He always likes being the underdog and when the crowd's against you and shouting at you, I used to say to him 'listen how quiet that crowd goes when you start connecting and putting it together' and most boxers will pick up on that."