Josh Kennedy is ready to impress the boxing world when he steps into the ring at London’s O2 Arena moments before David Haye’s comeback on Saturday.

The 24-year-old from Folkestone fights Slovakian journeyman Elemir Rafael in front of the TV cameras and admits it’s the biggest opportunity of his boxing career.

Super-bantamweight Kennedy has won all four of his professional fights by knockouts and intends to make that five on the big stage – and on TV channel Dave.

He said: "Nobody knows me yet so they’re in for a treat.

"It’s going to be streamed to millions so it’s introducing me to the world and I can’t wait.

"This is my biggest opportunity so far. If I do well on this show, I might never have to sell tickets again, I could constantly be on big undercards.

"There’s other promoters like Frank Warren who might want me on their shows. This is a big opportunity for me as long as I do well.

"I’m meant to be boxing just before David Haye so it’s going to be a packed-out venue, 15-17,000 people.

"First of all, I was told I was boxing second and I’d probably have a few thousand people in the arena. But my manager spoke to Hayemaker Promotions, they said ‘what order shall we put these on because we want it to be exciting’ and he said ‘you want Josh Kennedy boxing just before David Haye’ so they swapped it around."

Rafael, a 30-year-old veteran of 137 bouts, agreed to fight Kennedy at the last minute.

Kennedy said: "I’m a bit disappointed it’s not an English opponent again but there’s not a lot I could do about it. He pulled out so I rushed round trying to find an opponent.

"Four fights and four knockouts is not something another boxer wants to go in on, especially if they’re trying to get a successful career themselves. The last thing they want to do is challenge someone that’s probably going to beat them.

"He’s a proper journeyman. He’s been about for a good few years, been in there with some top lads and gone the distance with them. It should be interesting.

"He’s boxed for an intercontinental title, he’s boxed the likes of Lewis Pettitt and he took Lewis six rounds so if I can get a stoppage, it puts into perspective where I am in the super-bantamweight division."