“I FEEL like I’m a good example for people that if you work hard you’ll get where you want to go,” says Liam Conroy, reflecting on the route his boxing career has taken over the past seven years.

Since he first joined the paid ranks in 2012, scoring a fourth-round stoppage win over Danny Brown, the Barrow light-heavyweight has experienced just about every up and down the fight game could throw at someone.

From working his way up on small-hall shows across the north of England, to considering his future in the sport after being stopped in the first round by Cello Renda in Prizefighter, followed by redemption in the form of going 10 fights unbeaten and earning a long-coveted shot at the vacant Lonsdale belt, it has been a long route to the top for Conroy.

The WBC World Youth Silver, Northern Area and English belts have all been claimed on that run, but they will seem like mere baubles in comparison if he can slay unbeaten Olympian Joshua Buatsi at London's Copperbox Arena live on Sky Sports tonight in their battle for the iconic Lonsdale belt.

"I'm dead excited about it and loads more motivated," said Conroy. "There's been nothing I haven't taken care of as professionally as I could.

"I've just been eating, sleeping, breathing Joshua Buatsi and thinking about getting him beaten.

“The British title has been the pinnacle for me since I was a little boy, so it’s going to be absolutely crazy if I win on Saturday.”

Having begun his career revival with a draw against Mitch Mitchell in March 2015, Conroy has won nine straight fights to put himself in title contention, with the British Boxing Board of Control making him Buatsi's mandatory opponent after Callum Johnson vacated the title.

Preston-based trainer Johnney Roye has played a big part in helping Conroy achieve his potential and while both have different approaches – Roye's approach is more technical whereas Conroy likes to graft – it has proven to be a winning combination.

"It's done your head in a bit with those technical things, but we've grown together as a team and I know what he expects from me now," said Conroy.

"A lot of the time, I know what he's going to say in between sparring and stuff, so I'll have picked up on a mistake he'll have spotted because we know each other that well now.

"It's a brilliant team and we've been working together for a long time, and I'm looking forward to rewarding him with a British title."

Conroy is the first boxer from Barrow to fight for the Lonsdale belt in its 110-year history and is proud to be a trailblazer for professional boxing in the town.

But whatever happens tonight, he expects more to follow soon.

"People are starting to realise they can do it because the talent is in our little town," said Conroy.

"I'm proud to be the first and paving the way, but I don't think I will be the last."