Carl Fail is a boxer in a hurry as he faces second professional fight in just five weeks

The 24-year-old will take on 29-year-old Kristaps Zulgis as part of the latest MTK Fight Night at the University of Bolton Stadium on Saturday evening.

The fight is on the undercard of the WBO European middleweight title fight between Danny Dignum and Andrey Sirotki, with the card being broadcast live on IFL TV.

Zulgis is 29 and based in Basildon, and was only unveiled as the opponent on Wednesday, while Fail only found out he was on the bill last week. It is not exactly ideal preparation time for Fail in what is only his second professional encounter, but he says he is ready and raring to go.

“I only had short notice myself as I only got told about it last Friday, but I had stayed ready from my last fight,” said super welterwight Fail, who comprehensively outpointed the previously unbeaten Jordan Dujon in that first pro bout.

“My coach made me have five days off, he forced me out of the gym, but I was straight back in then and stayed ready.

“I called my manager, just looking for a date, and he said ‘there is one in two weeks’. When I spoke to my team we thought we had stayed ready, so why not?”

Fail, who along with twin brother Ben hails from the Far Cotton Amateur Boxing Club in Northampton, has been preparing for Saturday’s bout at the Pug Gym in North Finchley in London.

And he says he has taken on board any mistakes he may have made in the win over Dujon.

“I learned a lot in that fight because he did have experience as a pro,” said Fail. “There were a few things I was doing wrong, a few things I had to go away and work on, and this is it now.

“It is about learning and building, and getting better and better each fight.”

The fact the fight is at the same venue will be of benefit to Fail, who added: “I have been there done it, I have the experience of it all.

“It’s where I fought my debut, and there was a lot of pressure on that fight.

“I have managed to get through that, shake it off, and I am looking forward to this weekend. It is another good opportunity for me, and to have two fights in five weeks as a pro is great.

“This is what I want to be doing in my career, especially during these early days, taking these fights and taking calculated risks.”

Zulgis will go into Saturday's fight as the fighter with far more experience, having taken part in 24 bouts compared to Fail's one.

But he has only won five of those 24 encounters, losing his past three and 10 of his past 12.

His most recent win was in December, 2019, when he beat Aaron Collins at York Hall. It is Collins' only professional loss to date.

The fight against Fail will be his first in more than a year, as he has not stepped into the ring since being knocked out by John Harding Jnr in March, 2020.

Elsewhere on Saturday's card, Dan Azeez puts his English light-heavyweight belt on the line against Ricky Summers, Joe Ham collides with Jack Bateson, Lewie Edmondson takes on Luke Blackledge, Paul Ryan makes his professional debut against Kyle Hughes, Fearghus Quinn clashes with Jan Ardon and Paul McCullagh meets Anthony Woolery.