CHAS SYMONDS has continued the war of words with Bradley Skeete ahead of their all-south London title clash on Saturday, insisting he "can't wait to make heads turn" by defeating the "very over-rated" opponent in front of him.
The pair will meet at the ExCel Arena on December 15 for Symonds' Southern Area belt, amid a huge Frank Warren promotion which includes British champion George Groves against Glen Johnson and another Ricky Burns' world title defence.
Skeete had added fuel to the fire earlier in the week, telling local press he may as well retire if he isn't able to beat a fighter like Symonds.
But the "Croydon Bomber" has hit back, laughing off the levels of hype surrounding Skeete, who is taking part in only his tenth professional bout.
"He's boxed no-one," Symonds told Advertiser Sport. "The only person he has fought with any sort of record was Pete McDonagh and I thought Pete won the fight by a round.
"Some are calling him the next Thomas Hearns - where do people get this stuff from? If he thinks he's going to stop me he's going to have a big shock. I can't wait to see everyone's heads turn when I knock him out."
Skeete faced McDonagh last time out, but in the end only got the nod by a narrow points margin.
Of nine opponents defeated by the Penge fighter so far just two had winning records, while 270 losses were racked up between them.
"I haven't been watching his fights - I don't need to," said Symonds.
"I'm confident for a knockout and I have probably got to get one if I want to win it. I'm the away fighter, fighting one of Frank Warren's boys on his own show."
Symonds, meanwhile, is looking to use the pay-per-view event, broadcast on the PremierSports channel, as a platform for bigger and better things.
The Addiscombe-based 30-year-old, who fights out of Rosehill boxing club, has won three of his last four fights, in the process reclaiming the vacant Southern Area belt he lost to Gavin Tait at the end of last year.
"I'm in brilliant shape - this is as fit as I have been in my whole career and it was the best camp I've ever had," he said.
"I'm looking to fight for the British or Commonwealth title next. I would have no problems with Denton Vassell [the Commonwealth holder].
"This guy [Bradley Skeete] is nothing special. I'm a local warrior. I've got nothing to lose on Saturday."
Symonds would like to thank his sponsors for their continued support: Simply Constructions, a building company based in Croydon, Gilmore Support Shorts, his trainer Ian Burbridge, and everyone down at Dynamo and Rosehill.
