Southampton is set for a European invasion on Saturday night as Rich O’Connor swaps multi-million pound super yachts for the boxing ring.

The 31-year-old middleweight may be a late comer to the professional boxing scene, but he is not lacking support.

O’Connor, who makes his debut in the paid ranks at the O2 Guildhall Southampton on Saturday evening, has more than 150 friends travelling to lend him his support from as far afield as Norway, Spain, France and Ireland.

He explained: “I work as a marine systems engineer. Basically I travel to work on super yachts and install systems in them.

“You travel all over the place and for three or four weeks at a time you can be away from home and so you get to know the captains and the crew of the boats very well and become good friends.

“When a lot of them found out I was going to be fighting and making my debut they were really keen to come over and support me.

“There are a lot of them travelling in for Saturday night, which is fantastic for me, and hopefully I can get off to a winning start.”

Despite his globetrotting line of work, the Pioneer business systems-sponsored fighter is well and truly Southampton born and bred.

O’Connor never forgets his roots thanks to a tattoo of the Bargate on his back, and currently lives in West End having been brought up in Bassett and Thornhill.

“I am definitely a Southampton lad through and through,” said O’Connor.

“It doesn’t matter where I travel with work, Southampton is always my home.

“I am really excited about this weekend and getting the chance to make my debut.

“I have trained really hard for it and now I am hoping to put on a good show.”

O’Connor’s first outing will be against experienced Isle of Weight journeyman Jay Morris over four rounds on the huge bill in the city on Saturday night.

Tickets for the event are close to selling out with a big crowd expecting a bumper night of action.

O’Connor is one of 11 fights scheduled for the evening.

The headline act is King Davidson fighting Ishmael Tetteh for the vacant WBO International light middleweight strap.

Also on the bill will be local stars such as Tony Hill, Matty Tew, Joe Pigford, Darryl Still, Alex Dilmaghani, Wade Armour, Jake Gosling and the boxing brothers, Tommy and Shane Watson.

Remaining tickets are available from the Guildhall box office on 023 8063 2601 or via their website.