Former professional mixed martial artist John Nicholls will headline the next Kent Charity Boxing Show.

Medway hardman Nicholls fought on some of the top MMA shows in the world during his years as a professional but gave it up in 2018.

He’s back training ahead of the April 21 KCB show, determined to help a young girl get the medical treatment she needs in America.

The KCB team are helping three-year-old Leilani, who has a rare heart and lung condition. The family need £200,000 to get her the treatment she needs in Boston, America and are over halfway there.

“No Mercy” Nicholls has helped sell plenty of tickets for the up-and-coming show at the Lordswood Leisure Centre.

“The way I see it, it’s six minutes of my life to give a girl a quality of life, I am going to fight as hard as I can for her,” said the 42-year-old.

“I will enjoy the night, it is more about her, but whoever comes I will be ready for and I have told Darren (Clayton, the KCB event organiser) I will do as many fights as it takes to get this girl to America. I would fight every day if I have to.

“I have sold 100 tickets for this one, I still have quite a good following, it will be a very loud, very epic night.”

Nicholls boxed as a kid before taking up MMA as a pro so he’s had to get used to the sport again, with no shortage of local professionals helping with sparring. It’s a charity event but he’s training daily.

He said: “It has come back naturally but Darren is really helping me, every day he is in the gym for me for free, bless him.

“It has been very tough but I have already broken the gym record for the bicycle exercises. My cousin had already signed up for the boxing and when I saw it on Facebook, I thought, ‘this girl deserves some help here’ and I have been in the gym ever since.

“The first day I thought ‘oh my god, I am getting too old’ but Darren had devised a programme for me and I’m doing daily five-mile runs now.

“Darren and the KCB team are like a family, you feel like you’ve been there forever. Darren has become one of my best friends over the last few weeks, he is one of the nicest people I have met. He knows his job, the gym is fantastic - Kent Gloves is one of the best around.

“It has been a little strange to be boxing again - I haven’t done it for around 10 years - and because I spent so many years in MMA I have had to change my style.

“Nobody likes getting punched in the face - I’ve been doing it my whole life and I don’t like it, but a little bit of pain won’t hurt me for this little girl.”

The KCB team offer a free boxing camp for anyone wishing to participate on one of their shows and give the sport a go. Beginners are welcome, aged from nine upwards.

Tickets for their April 21 show cost £30 standing, £40 VIP seats and £50 table with waitress service. The KCB page can be found on Facebook and Leilani’s gofundme page.