Birmingham heavyweight Neil Perkins is set to be thrown into the lion’s den on October 2 after being thrust into the ‘Prizefighter’ tournament as a late replacement.

The 27-year-old comes in at short notice after being second on the reserve list, in sad circumstances after Michael Sprott pulled out due to the tragic death of his sister Ginette.

Perkins will now face Danny Hughes in the first round of the eight-man, winner-take-all, one-night event at the ExCel Arena in London, with a £32,000 top prize for the outright winner.

What a birthday present that would be for the latest challenger, who turns 28 on the day of the show, but the Priory Park amateur goes into battle as the ultimate underdog.

All and sundry are expecting a final between Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison and reigning British champion Danny Williams, who can only meet in the decider after the draw was made.

A stiff line up is completed by Scott Belshaw, first reserve Carl ‘The Fridge’ Baker, Coleman Barratt and Scott Gamner.

But the Brummie quarter of the draw has warned the big guns that he has everything to gain – and nothing to lose.

He said: “There is no pressure on me at all. There isn’t one boxer who hasn’t been in ‘Prizefighter’ and not benefitted from it, so this is my chance in the limelight.

“Everyone is expecting the two big names to make the final, so it’s up to me to buck that trend.

“So it’s me and Danny first, who is a lovely lad who I have a lot of time for. It will be a shame to hurt him really.”

Perkins had already been in training for a fight in Dudley on October 9, which he has to pull out of to make his ‘Prizefighter’ bow.