NEIL PERKINS has revealed he wouldn’t have been able to turn professional but for his big-hearted pal David Price supporting him financially.
The scouser won a bronze medal at the 2005 world amateur championships and a year later repeated that feat at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Perkins (3-0) walked away from boxing after the 2007 world championships but decided to turn professional last year after seeing Price have success.
The scouse light-middleweight bids to continue his winning run at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday when he boxes Steve Spence.
Perkins, 31, said: “Part of me coming back was Pricey and seeing what I could do before I got too old.
“Really, it was just to see if I still had it, but now I am serious about it and I know I have still got it.
“It was my idea to go pro but David paid £600 for my medicals because times were hard.
“It is a good mate who does that and we are very close.”
Promoter Frank Maloney is in a hurry and Saturday’s contest against Spence (4-28-4) will be the amateur standout’s final six rounder.
Maloney said: “Neil is one of Liverpool boxing’s hidden secrets.
“Neil is already being avoided because of his amateur record.
“This will be his last six round fight because he is quiet old for a prospect and after Saturday the button is getting pressed.
“I would expect him to bring another title back to Liverpool before Christmas and early 2014 will be time for the British title.”
Perkins added: “There is no messing around I want titles.
“I should have turned professional after the worlds in 2005 but I didn’t know anything about the pro game and the England were badgering me to stay amateur.”
Top of the bill is the heavyweight rematch between Price (15-1) and Tony Thompson (37-3)
Also, local boxer Kevin Satchell (10-0) defends his British and Commonwealth flyweight titles against Motherwell’s Iain Butcher (8-0).
Leeds’ star Adil Anwar (19-1) challenges Bristol’s Darren Hamilton (13-2) for the British light-welterweight crown.
Other contests: Jazza Dickens (15-0) v Reynaldo Cajina (12-16-3), Travis Dickinson (14-1) v S/O, Lee Boyce (debut) v James Todd (2-2-1), Marcin Marczak (6-0) v Kevin McCauley (11-55-3), Andy Colquhoun (7-0) v Dougie Curran (9-18-3), Joe Tonks (5-2) v Johnny Greaves (3-95), Sean Dodd (6-0) v S/O, Louis Cuddy (8-0) v S/O.
Tickets for ‘Redemption’ are available priced £180 (VIP including private bar), £100, £80, £50, £35 can be obtained from www.echoarena.com www.frankmaloney.com and telephone bookings can be made by calling 0844 8000400.
Redemption: David Price v Tony Thompson will be broadcast live and exclusive on BoxNation on Saturday 6th July 2013
