Southampton’s ring kings are ready to enhance their reputations still further in Winchester tonight – no matter who they end up facing.

There has had to be some nifty last minute match making ahead of this evening’s show at Winchester Guildhall.

To start with, three opponents for the local fighters had to withdraw with various tales of woe – one with a cut eye, one with a dislocated shoulder and one after being stopped in another bout.

Added to that, it has proved very hard to get Joe Pigford matched.

The exciting welterweight has only had two pro contests but has stopped both his opponents emphatically.

The decision was made to step him up to six rounds early on to try and match him, but even so word of his talent and power have got around and people are running scared.

“It’s been tough, but we are there now,” said Wayne Batten, the trainer who has had to hit the phones and use contacts to help out.

“It was pretty unfortunate those three original opponents had to pull out, but we had enough notice to get that sorted out. However, matching Joe has proved to be very difficult. “A lot of people who we have spoken to say they have heard about him and they don’t want to get stopped or knocked out so they aren’t willing to take the risk of facing him.

“Obviously it’s a massive compliment to Joe in many ways because to have that sort of reputation after just two fights, and when you are stepping up to six rounds, shows how well he’s done and how good people think he is already.

“It doesn’t help when it comes to getting him meaningful learning fights but hopefully that is what he will get tonight.”

Another fighter with past opponent problems is Wade Armour. The Southampton lad lives in Stoke for work reasons but his heart, as well as his family and friends, very much remain down this way.

He was due to make a dream pro debut at Southampton Guildhall in November, but turned up at the venue to learn his opponent was not there.

That is something that will be put right this evening.

“It was hard for him with the disappointment of the last fight falling through at the last minute,” reflected Batten. “It was a real struggle to get him someone and he turned up expecting to box and it was a big disappointment for him on what was meant to be his pro debut so I expect he’ll be desperate to get out there and get going.”

Tonight’s show is the first pro boxing card in Winchester for more than 30 years and is headlined by Tony Hill. The undercard features the likes of Pigford and Armour along with Alex Dilmaghani, Darryl Still and Tommy Watson.

There are a few tickets remaining and they are available on the door. Doors open 6pm with boxing starting at 7pm.