Adrian Roach will make his professional boxing debut on home soil when he steps into the ring tomorrow night.

Roach will be fighting at welterweight at the Victualling Yard in Dockyard against Canadian Brent Coxworthy as part of Epic Entertainment’s mammoth Fight Night Champion card.

A talented amateur who represented Bermuda at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2023, Roach cut an animated figure as he prepares for the biggest moment of his sporting life.

“I’m really excited and it’s been a long time coming,” Roach said.

“I had a good amateur career and fought some of the best, but now it’s time to turn that rock over and get on to becoming a professional.

“Going into the ring, it is going to be all business, but when it's all finished and my hand is raised and the job is done, then it turns to celebration and gratitude to everybody who supported me not only through this camp but through my whole career.”

Roach was an integral part of Andre Lambe’s training camp in the build-up to the Bermudian’s breakout win in Texas this month, and his compatriot’s success has given the younger man a bump in morale.

“I’ve been in a training camp for almost ten weeks now and I’ve been in a camp with Andre Lambe, so I’m in shape, I’m ready and I’m primed,” Roach said.

“Andre’s win is a big confidence boost — just knowing that you have that high-quality work in your camp and knowing that you are ready for anything that will come in the fight. I feel really confident and I don’t think anything will surprise me come fight night. Just come and see; I’ve got some excitement for you.”

Lambe is hoping to be at ringside to see his regular sparring partner among the paid ranks for the first time, and is confident that he has what it takes to follow him up the boxing ladder.

“Adrian was a big part of my training camp for sparring,” Lambe said. “He brought the intensity and everything that we needed to get the rounds in.

“He’s a very good listener, he learns very quickly and he was a great asset in the camp. Aside from just sparring, there were times when I needed that little extra push in runs and, when I was tired and needed that motivation, he was there.

“It was great to have him in camp and I’m really excited to see this next step in his career. He’s a very talented fighter and I believe he has a bright future in the sport.

“I’m excited to see him put it all together and make that next step. He should have a great pro debut, and I’m looking forward to this fight and his career after.”

It is no surprise that Roach’s first opponent is probably best described as a journeyman with a 1-3 record in his four professional fights since 2022.

However, that sole win did come in his last bout, thanks to a technical knockout of fellow Canadian Matt McIntyre in 2024. Coxworthy is promising a tough fight, although he admits the Bermudian may have the edge in skill set.

“I’m all about the dogfight,” Coxworthy said.

“I know my opponent’s a much better boxer. He’s got more experience and he’s got more skill. I’m not going in there to box his ears off; I’m going in there to look for a dogfight and looking for a knockout. My biggest worry is how little I’m worried.”

Coxworthy knows that he will have no support at ringside, but he insists that does not bother him given where he has come from.

“I’m used to having no support, as I’m always the away guy,” he said.

“I started getting in trouble in my life, but boxing brought me away from that. I’ve been doing it for four or five years now and it’s been a blessing. I’ve just really changed my life around — boxing has kept me out of jail and institutions.

“I’ve come a long way in the last four years after going straight into pros, and I’ve taken it head-on. I’m known as ‘The Hammer’ now, so he better watch out it don’t hit him.“

• Video by Nkenge Boyles