Lee Purdy: World title fight a 'golden opportunity'

Promoter Eddie Hearn has said Lee Purdy's late call-up for a world title shot next month "came completely out of the blue".

The Colchester fighter was handed the bout against IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander after Kell Brook withdrew through injury.

"We hoped at some point in his career, if he kept improving, we would get him a title shot," Hearn told BBC Essex.

"But no-one in their wildest dreams expected it to come so quickly."

He added: "It really is a golden opportunity."

Purdy, who defended his IBF International welterweight title last month by beating Cosme Rivera in a ninth-round knockout, will fight American Alexander in Atlantic City on 18 May

Of his 24 professional fights, the 25-year-old former British champion has won 20, drawn one and lost three.

Following Brook's withdrawal, the vacant spot was offered to Canada's Kevin Bizier, who turned down the fight.

"All of a sudden we got the call for Lee and it came completely out of the blue," said Hearn.

"We were talking to his manager about making a potential summer fight, maybe the Commonwealth title.

"Now he has a shot at one of the best welterweights in the world in Atlantic City."

Alexander, 26, has lost only one of his 25 professional fights and will be making his first defence of the title.

"Obviously Lee will be a huge underdog. But he's improving all the time, he's very strong and punches very hard," said Hearn.

"A lot of people think he's got the style to trouble Devon Alexander.

"It's one of those opportunities that comes around once in a lifetime. It took Lee about two or three seconds to accept the fight."