Dean Harrison's big shot in Vegas

Wolverhampton's Dean Harrison has vowed to take his golden chance in Las Vegas – after revealing he had resorted to trawling the internet looking for a fight.

Harrison faces perhaps the toughest test of his career with an eight-rounder against the unbeaten Mike Alvarado at the world-famous Mandalay Bay Resort tonight.

It's a chance for the light welterweight to become an instant hit Stateside and 'Deano' has done it before in Las Vegas, stopping Ramon Geuvara in five rounds just over three years ago.

English and British title shots followed but at the turn of the year a fully fit Harrison was disillusioned with boxing again, after Frankie Gavin pulled out of their December contest at three days notice.

All attempts to line up a quick replacement failed and Harrison found himself logging on to Make a Fight.com, in a desperate attempt to get his career back on track.

In the end, trainer Lee Beard pulled a few strings and got him tonight's fight, which Harrison admits could be the break he has been waiting for.

He said: "I couldn't seem to get anything decent over here and I decided I was going to get my own fights, so I went on to their website and put my name in for about four to six fights over there.

"My trainer Lee Beard knows the promoter at Top Rank, who are promoting the show, he told him about me and soon as we saw this opponent, we definitely wanted to get this fight.

"It's an opportunity, if I beat him it will be like the film Highlander – you cut his head off and take his power.

"If I win I would take his ranking, which would put me further up the ladder than fighting Frankie Gavin anyway.

"And, what I have watched of Alvarado, I don't see what he does in the ring that is better than me."

Harrison's big night in the States comes as Gavin also returns to the ring, back in London at York Hall.

With the two now going off in different directions, the all-West Midlands derby between the duo is increasingly unlikely to happen, which 'Deano' believes is another opportunity missed.

The 27-year-old is getting to used to it – Harrison has since been turned down as an opponent for Lee Purdy, Kevin McIntyre and an English title rematch with Nigel Wright.

However, Harrison is now looking to take matters into his own hands.

He said: "I am willing to fight absolutely anybody – and no one is willing to fight me.

"I think, in this country, fighting me is a high risk for a low reward, because I haven't got a title or anything.

"I actually think Gavin would have been a harder fight than this, I am more than confident of going out there and getting the win that would boost me right back up there.

"If I get options and offers after that, I have got to do what is best for me."