IT takes an awful lot to fluster or faze Will Howe, which is a good job, really - for there aren't many fighters who get the opportunity to make their professional debut on a huge televised card at Manchester Arena.

Nerves, you'd think, would be guaranteed.

And yet for the Middlesbrough heavyweight - brilliantly nicknamed The Boro Balboa - the overriding emotion is excitement. This has been a week he'll never forget - and that's before he's even stepped between the ropes on Saturday night on undercard of the hotly anticipated undisputed world super-middleweight clash between Savannah Marshall and Franchon Crews-Dezurn.

"I had my first fight at the Buffs Social Club in Middlesbrough now here I am on the biggest stage with Sky and Boxxer," he says.

"It's massive. I can't let it get to me. I just take it back, smile and enjoy it.

"I've had a few hundred people coming to watch me at pubs and clubs and here I am now in this huge arena. I'm just taking it all in my stride. I'm not going to overdo anything, I'm just going to enjoy it all."

Howe wasn't on the stage for the main press conference on Thursday but he still made sure he was in attendance, taking it all in and learning from the experience. That's what he does every day training alongside Marshall under the watch of Peter Fury.

The 21-year-old has fine amateur pedigree, winning English and British titles as well as being a two-time European bronze medalist. He jumped at the chance to turn over with Fury in his corner and his pro journey starts against Jake Darnell, who was also Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke's first opponent as a pro.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity and I'm making sure I enjoy it," says Howe.

"No matter what happens in my career, there aren't many who get to say they fight on a bill like this at an arena like this on their debut. It will stay with me forever."

Howe, from Linthorpe, hangs on every word of his experienced trainer.

"It's experience you can't buy," he says.

"He's been through everything. I listen to every word he says and take it on board.

"If I was stood on the edge of a cliff and he said jump off it and you'll fly, I'd probably believe him and jump. He never lies, he tells it how it is. If you're doing alright he tells you, if you're doing badly you know about it.

"I'm loving being under him, it's great experience and it's a great figure to have to look up to. I know he wants the best for his fighters. He's a great man to have in the corner.

"The risk for me on Saturday night is almost trying too hard to impress him. I just have to go in there, be myself and stick to the plan."

Howe has had a front row seat for Savannah's gruelling build-up for her clash with Crews-Dezurn and is in no doubt that the belts are coming back to the North-East.

He said: "Sav has had a fantastic camp. She's 100% ready for this fight, there's no more she can do really."