Nick Blackwell vs Jack Arnfield - live boxing on TV this weekend

Blackwell vs Arnfield, Saturday night 10pm, Channel 5

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The lone televised boxing card this weekend emanates from Bristol where British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell defends his title for the second time against late replacement Jack Arnfield.

Blackwell was scheduled to meet the unbeaten Elliott Matthews on Saturday night before a cut to the Watford man saw Arnfield given the title shot on just over a week's notice.

Despite having no amateur credentials after plying his trade on the unlicensed circuit, the 25-year-old Blackwell has established a successful professional career with 18 wins against three defeats and a draw.

The fact that those losses came against Martin Murray, Billy Joe Saunders and Max Bursak indicates the quality that Blackwell has already faced, and he achieved his current career highlight last May when he knocked out John Ryder to become British champion.

After a successful first defence in July over Damon Jones the defending champion is in good form ahead of his bout with Arnfield, and could be looking for his third successive stoppage victory.

Arnfield has a pretty looking 19-1 record, but with the exception of a Prizefighter victory over Mick Hall he has never achieved a significant win in his 20 fight career.

Although the 26-year-old bounced back from his first loss against Cello Renda earlier this year to defeat Lithuanian journeyman Deividas Sajauka three weeks ago in Manchester, he is stepping up many levels of competition this weekend in Bristol.

Blackwell has many excellent attributes in the ring, but his stamina and drive are particularly impressive and were very noticeable in the John Ryder fight when he recovered from a slow start to stop his opponent in the seventh round.

The champion has been sparring with IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale in the build up to this defence, and is the 1/7 favourite to win with the bookmakers offering odds of 5/1 for Arnfield to achieve the upset.

Only twice has Arnfield fought past eight rounds, while Blackwell has twice completed the 12 round championship distance.

Expect an entertaining bout while it lasts, but it may be wise to add Blackwell by stoppage into an accumulator with odds of around ½ available for that bet.

One of Britain’s most successful amateur stars features as chief support on the undercard, as Andrew Selby makes his second professional appearance against 18-year-old Hungarian Jozsef Ajtai.

A former two-time AIBA World Championships medalist, Selby looked impressive in his pro debut a fortnight ago in Newport, and will be confident of doubling his winning record despite facing an undefeated opponent.

Ajtai has won all ten of his bouts this year, but considering the majority of those victories have occurred at Budapest’s Gentlemen Fight Club Boxing House, a venue which sounds more like a lap dancing venue than a boxing locale, his record may not be all it seems.

A fortnight ahead of cousin Tyson’s world title tilt at Wladimir Klitschko, 16-0 Hughie Fury also features on the undercard in an eight round bout with Argentina’s Emilio Ezequiel Zarate.

Considering Zarate already has another bout scheduled in Buenos Aires later this month, the cynical prediction could be Hughie winning on points.

Undefeated cruiserweight Craig Kennedy plus prospects Young Fury and Yusuf Safa will also be fighting in Bristol.