CHRIS Goodwin says he is in the shape of his life as he gears up for a title tilt in front of his home faithful at the Northgate Arena on Saturday.

Goodwin will step through the ropes this weekend for his first competitive fight for 18 months when he faces 40-year-old Irish veteran Oisin Fagan for the vacant WBF intercontinental lightweight title.

The 25-year-old from Great Barrow enjoyed a warm-up victory over Polish journeyman Maurycy Gojko at York Hall, Bethnal Green, last month and will face a far sterner test on Saturday but believes he has what it takes to claim the title.

“Training has gone absolutely perfectly to be honest and has probably been the best preparation that I’ve ever had for a fight, so I’m confident,” said Goodwin, who trains out of his father Steve’s Chester Boxers gym in Hoole.

“Fagan is a rough and ready fighter but things have been going well for me so far and the sparring has been excellent.

“I’m feeling really good and really confident. All the hard work in training has been done now and we are already at weight so it will be a case of some light speed work to make sure I’m sharp for the weekend.”

Goodwin is joined on the bill by fellow Chester Boxers fighter Paul Economides as he bids to secure the WBF international super bantamweight title against Hungarian number one David Kanalas.

Goodwin added: “Everything is perfect both physically and mentally at the moment and I can’t wait to get out there in front of a home crowd and go for the title.”

Tickets for the event are available by calling 01244 342012 and are priced between £35 and £55. Doors open at 6pm and the first bout starts at 7pm.