The countdown is on as Andre Lambe prepares to be the headline act in the biggest fight of his career.

Lambe will be taking on Kendo Casteneda at welterweight in his first eight-round bout in the main event on the El Tigre Promotions card in Galveston, Texas, on June 14.

The fight venue, Galveston Convention Centre, holds 5,000 and Lambe is hoping to catch the eye of some influential movers and shakers ringside.

“It’s a pretty big arena and I’m excited to be the main event,” Lambe said.

“I earned that spot the last time I fought in Texas; I was fight of the night. My coach was a popular high school American football player in the area, and a lot of people know him and want to see who he is working with.

“I don’t want to say too much, but there are going to be some notable promoters looking to see me. I have to put on a good show to unlock some other opportunities that we already have lined up. It’s definitely a big opportunity.”

Anyone who has had the privilege of watching Lambe train in the past few weeks will attest to the condition he is in and, while many boxers say that they are in the best shape of their life before a bout, the sense is that the Bermudian really believes it.

“I’ve been training practically seven days a week,” Lambe said.

“We just have the occasional recovery day and some days we train two or three times a day. I’m upping the ante on a lot of my training, doing a lot more strength training and a lot more cardio to make sure I’m fit for the rounds.

“Adrian Roach has come back from school and he’s been one of my primary sparring partners. Adrian’s stature is pretty close to the guy that I’m fighting and his style is pretty similar, so he is a good gauge in the build-up to the fight.

“Some of the coaches I’ve worked with outside of boxing, such as my strength and conditioning coach, have said that this is the best shape I’ve been in.

“I’ve also changed my diet, as a few times I’ve struggled with making weight, so this time around we’ve been on track and I’ve been strong throughout this camp.”

Casteneda has a record of 21 wins and nine losses, but his defeats have come against top fighters. He has been featured on ESPN and is ranked 87th in the United States, which means Lambe will need to be at his best if he is to have his hand raised in the centre of the ring.

“On paper, he’s easily the best I’ve fought,” Lambe said. “He is a game fighter who is very fast and reactive.

“I let my coach come up with a game plan and I listen to him. I’m not going too deeply on the videos, as sometimes on the night they can fight differently. All I need to know is what pace he fights at and I have good chemistry with my coach, so we will work it out.”

Lambe is predicting strong Bermudian support in Texas, with a number of people already committed to flying out for the fight. But those left at home will still get the chance to witness the bout.

“I know a few Bermudians are flying out and there is a good Bermudian base already in Texas who came out for my last fight there,” Lambe said.

“El Tigre promotions will also be putting the fight stream on their Facebook page, so you’ll be able to watch it live.”

Lambe has one final event to raise money in the build-up to the fight with a potluck dinner to be held at the Ex-Artillerymen’s Association on Victoria Street on Friday night, and he is hoping plenty of people will turn up to provide him with a good sendoff.

“We are doing a potluck to help with some of the costs leading up to the fight and I’d love for as many people as possible to come out.

“If anybody wants to sponsor and donate anything, they can reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook.”