HORNDON boxer John Wayne Hibbert says defeat in his do-or-die fight with Dave Ryan will probably spell the end of his career.

The 30-year-old fighter will step in the ring at London’s 02 Arena for the third time against Ryan on Saturday, having lost both previous bouts against the Derby boxer.

Although Hibbert lost the second fight at the end of May, he won plaudits across the sport for his display. He came racing out of the blocks and put his opponent on the canvas twice early on, before a technical knock-out in the ninth round ended his hopes.

But Hibbert, who trains at the Gateway Amateur Boxing Club in Corringham, has accepted the mistakes he made in the build-up to that fight and now has his eyes firmly set on the Commonwealth super lightweight and the WBC International super lightweight titles, in a bout he says he simply cannot lose.

“This is a new level,” he said, ahead of a star-studded night of boxing featuring International heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. “The last fight was different and my preparation wasn’t right I know that. The diet didn’t work for me and I messed it up but this is completely different.

“The diet didn’t agree with me but it was too late to change it by the time I knew. I lost more than a stone in five days and that wasn’t good for me.

“But I have to live with what happened. Throughout my whole amateur career I have never been knocked to the floor and it was hard for me.

“But as soon as I heard a re-match was on the cards you have to forget about it. I was over the moon. This time is different and it will be a different outcome.

“There is a lot riding on this. If I lose then it is probably the end of my career but I won’t lose.”

Hibbert says the intensity of his preparation, thanks to the help of his team has put him in the best possible place.

He has been training with Bradley Skeete, who is preparing for his WBO European welterweight title fight with Mark Thompson at Wembley Arena at the end of September, and Johnny Garton, who is fighting an English welterweight title final eliminator at York Hall later this month.

They, along with head coach Mark “Sach” Bates, trainer Alan Smith and his uncle Philip have been there to help Hibbert through the hard times “I have such a good team behind me. The likes of Johnny Garton and Bradley Skeete have given me the best possible preparation. There is no-one better in the country to get me through this fight,” said Hibbert.

“It doesn’t bother me what Dave Ryan does. He is a brilliant champion but I am better in every way now. As long as we are on our game there is no way he can beat us.”

Hibbert could have been fighting for the British light-welterweight title as well, but a re-match between Chris Jenkins and Tyrone Nurse means that bout will have to wait.

Although the Horndon fighter has his eye on a fight with whoever wins that clash, assuming he gets past Ryan.

The Orsett-born boxer says his inspirations for heading to the gym every day are his two children. Hibbert has to leave six-year-old Lexie and two-year-old Connor each morning as his hectic schedule dictates. And he says it makes it harder as they are too young to understand their dad’s career.

“It is very hard for me,” he admitted. “They are both young and can’t understand why their daddy has to leave early every day and not get back until late. But when I tell them I have to go training I hope they realise it is important for me. It hurts me but thinking of them gives me that little bit more.”

And Lexie has been reaping the rewards at school, where her friends refer to her dad as “famous” having seen him on television.

“It is nice,” smiles Hibbert. “It makes me proud but I have never let my feet leave the ground. If people want to talk to me then I am always happy to chat to them. I’m a friendly person and this won’t change me.”

Hibbert was recently invited to the British Boxing Board of Control annual awards ceremony, after his second fight with Ryan gained such huge publicity.

Dubbed as “one of the fights of the year” by many, Hibbert says he would have been delighted to have been nominated for the best bout of 2015, although he will be unable to attend as he is on holiday.

“It is nice that people appreciate what you do and we were able to put on a good show,” he said. “But now it is all about getting the result. I don’t care if it is by a point or if I knock him out. I just need to win.”

l Hibbert has a new main sponsor, JVH Building Supplies, as well as other backers Capwell Design Ltd, who have enabled Hibbert to train full-time, Dean Crumpton, Reed’s Butchers, Impulse Leisure, JV Building Supplies and Simon James IT.

He is also supporting the Karis May Darling Foundation.

Echo:

Front foot – John Wayne helps Luke with his jab

I HAVE never been in a dust up in my life. I don’t know whether that is because I shy away from confrontation or have never sufficiently annoyed someone to force them into having a swing at me (presumably the former).

But when the chance came up to get into the ring with super lightweight boxer John Wayne Hibbert I, somewhat surprisingly, jumped at the chance.

Having recently become more enamoured with boxing, the chance to learn from Hibbert, a man who will be fighting at the 02 Arena in front of thousands in a fortnight, was an opportunity I was not ready to miss.

Arriving at the Gateway ABC, I was met with the sound of leather on leather, as Hibbert and fellow pro Bradley Skeete completed eight bruising rounds of sparring. Dripping with sweat and barely distinguishable through his headguard, I was made to feel at ease by Hibbert, who even placed a towel on the side of the ring for me to sit on as we spoke.

But before long I was donning a pair of gloves and stepping over the rope. Lesson number one involved positioning.

Using my right leg as a pivot I was able to bob and stay balanced while keeping my eyes on Hibbert, who told me to raise both hands and keep my elbows tucked into my hips.

Left hand forward and right slightly further back, I was told to jab. After jabbing first with my wrong hand (the right, as I faced him from the left) I punched at Hibbert’s right glove before snapping back to my start position.

I was told to follow that with a quick, left right and was praised for having a strong right arm! To be honest, the moment I received that praise I was ready to step out the ring before I embarrassed myself.

Hibbert then showed me some basic defence, demonstrating how to flick a straight punch away while keeping your guard up. To demonstrate what would happen if I didn’t do that, Hibbert darted like a flash and (fake) punched my side. I had barely seen him move.

I was not in the ring for long but it was long enough to know that it will not be my last time, although possibly my last against an opponent of this calibre.

A day in the life of John Wayne Hibbert

l Up at 5.15am for an early morning run up One Tree Hill in Langdon Hills.

l Breakfast: 40g porridge with half a spoon of honey and chopped banana. One poached egg Health drink containing kale, spinach, lemon and pear

l Morning yoga session, followed by a protein shake

l Gym session

l Lunch: 100g chicken with 50g rice

l Afternoon training sessions either side of a protein shake

l Dinner: Seabass and vegetable stir fry, with a protein shake

l Bed at 10pm.