Late change of opponent won't faze Northampton boxer Conway

But his trainer and father, James Conway, is confident he will be ready for it.

Conway spent the past five weeks preparing for a showdown with Frenchman Soulemayne Cissokho, with the fight scheduled be part of the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s highly anticipated world heavyweight title defence this weekend.

But Cissokho’s camp pulled out of the fight for ‘administrative reasons’ last weekend, and that left Conway and his team searching for a new opponent.

They found one in the shape of fellow English super-welterweight McGowan, who is jumping back into the ring just a month after his WBC international belt defeat to Kazakhstan’s Tursynbay Kulakhmet.

That was the 26-year-old’s first defeat in his 16-fight professional career, and he is going to pose a real threat to Conway in front of the Sky Sports Box Office cameras on Saturday night.

But Conway Snr says it is a challenge his fighter will rise to.

“Fair Play to Macauley McGowan for jumping in, and it is a great chance for him,” said Conway, who trains Kieron out of the Team Shoe-Box gym in Northampton.

“Kieron has been there so we know what it’s like and what a positive result can do, so we won’t take our eye off the ball.

“His last fight was a tough one but he’s definitely match fit, and he was a reasonable amateur boxing out of Jimmy Egan’s.

“But if we are serious about who we want to fight and where we want Kieron to go, we can’t slip up no matter what Macauley brings.”

Conway’s WBA Inter-Continental super welterweight title is not on the line, but his trainer knows this is another big fight as Kieron strives to become the British champion.

He has so far had one shot, drawing with Ted Cheeseman in a fight many thought the Northampton man had won, but has not been offered another crack - yet.

“There are two fights that Kieron really wants,” said Conway Snr. “One is a British title fight versus anyone, and the other is the Ted Cheeseman rematch.

“We like Ted, there’s no bad blood there, it’s just that people constantly ask and go on about the result and until it’s settled it’s going to keep hanging over him.

“Winning the British title has always been the goal for Kieron since turning pro.

“That is not as an end goal, it is the first box that needs to be ticked before reassessment, but we can’t hang about while Cheeseman gets chance after chance.

“Kieron will take any fight that’s offered, especially if they are a name in the sport.

“He wants to fight anyone and everyone, and he’s still young and improving.

“But testing yourself to see where you are is better than fooling yourself to thinking you are better than you are. And it is better than boxing lesser people and racking up meaningless wins.

“Cissokho would have been a great opponent, he was very well thought of and obviously very good, but we also believe he was a little bit overrated while Kieron was possibly being underestimated.

We would definitely welcome another shot at him in the future.”

Conway’s fight will be screened live in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office. It is a pay-per-view event.