Brad and Amir - it’s a sky blue super-fight!

Bradley Goldsmith….faces Abubaker on Saturday. Pic: Boxxer/Chris Dean

LIGHT the sky blue touchpaper and wait for the explosion. A Coventry super-fight is almost upon us.

On Queensberry’s huge show at Birmingham’s BP Pulse Live Arena this Saturday, the city’s two top middleweights collide. At stake is Bradley Goldsmith’s IBF international title and, just as importantly, bragging rights are on the line when he faces Amir Abubaker.

This 10 rounder oozes potential drama. Both are knockout punchers.

Goldsmith, a 28-year-old with an army of supporters, is coming off his finest win, a June masterclass over former British champ Brad Pauls. His only loss in 17 is by stoppage to brave Troy Coleman: a fight where he went for broke too early and paid the price in the seventh.

Abubaker, a barber by trade, has stopped out eight of his 12 opponents. The 26-year-old former Midlands light-middleweight champ’s sole loss came in his first taste of major televised arena boxing. At Bournemouth International Centre last year, Carl Fail stood up to his hammer blows and prevailed in eight rounds.

Experts I’ve spoken to believe the early rounds present the most danger to Goldsmith, but his ring IQ will shine through.

Goldsmith said: “It’s a great fight for Coventry. It’s going to be a good one.”

Bradley, trained in Sheffield by Dominic Ingle, has shown grit, determination and self-belief to overcome injury and defeat. He deserves the big stage, he has the fanbase to fill arenas.

Let’s be honest, there were those who cast serious doubts over his top flight credentials after brave burst the bubble in a Midlands title fight. He came back, collected the Commonwealth international belt by halting tough Asinia Byfield, then dominated Pauls who went into the contest a heavy favourite. The man was a revelation that night, pure.

“Eighteen months ago, there were probably people who believed I was finished,” Goldsmith said. “I’ve come back, had four good wins, won two titles, and this is my third title fight in six months. Tell me another middleweight in the country who’s done that. I live the life, I live the story.”

He and Abubaker came through the amateurs together, they’ve sparred as professionals: Goldsmith knows what to expect.

“He’s tough, strong, got quick hands,” Brad said. “I know what I’m in for, we both know what we’re in for. The ingredients are there for a really good fight. Thanks to Amir because he’s the one who accepted to face me. He always seems to be in shape, he’s always in the gym. People have seen me box, they say he can fight – well, I can fight, too.

“He’s in pretty much the same place I was in against Pauls, knowing a win can change everything.”

The gilt edged performance against Pauls will have boosted Goldsmith’s confidence, but he stressed: “I don’t dwell on things – when you do, weirdly that’s when things start to go wrong.”

Amir Abubaker….moving up to middle for title bid. Pic: Inga Zulyte

Abubaker, born in Iraq, is menacing and has poleaxed opponents, admittedly opponents a few notches below Goldsmith’s level. He is moving up from the division where he became a champion, he will start underdog.

His manager, Birmingham’s Anthony Manning, said: “We’ve been exploring options at super-welter (light-middle), the division is not stacked. The opportunity for this one came and it might be Amir’s more comfortable at the weight – that something we’ll find out when he gets in there.”

Manning stressed there’s no animosity towards Goldsmith, this is strictly business: “They’ve shared the ring before, they came through the amateurs together. When Amir turned pro, Bradley was a massive help to us.

“This one could go early rounds or late rounds, it just takes one mistake by either boxer. It’s about who gets it right on the night.

“I don’t see Bradley being a massive middleweight, but he’s a middleweight. Amir gives 100 per cent in all his training – hopefully, it’s his time to be champion. He’s an underdog and the underdog story is always the best story because people love to see it’s possible.”

Manning has warned punters not to draw conclusions from either Abubaker’s loss to Fail or Goldsmith’s setback against Coleman:

“I think Carl Fail is one of the best lads in the country, there’s no shame losing to Carl. Does that loss mean Amir has a point to prove? There’s always a point to prove – if you want to be what you think you are you have to show you can be it.

With Bradley, I feel it was a bit of inexperience. Experience let him down.”

Manning added: “I like Bradley, but I’m backing my fighter. It’s Coventry against Coventry, bragging rights.”