Cutler targets homecoming bout after McKenna fight

Lee Cutler takes on Stephen McKenna in Liverpool on Saturday

Light-middleweight Lee Cutler has said that he has been promised a homecoming headline fight in Bournemouth if he comes through against opponent Stephen McKenna on Saturday.

The two will collide on the undercard of Natasha Jonas' bout in Liverpool, where she will look to unify her IBF title with Ivana Habazin's WBC welterweight crown.

Cutler, known as "The Chaos", has been out of the ring for a year, most recently beating Londoner Kingsley Egbunike to claim the English title in December 2023.

The 28-year-old said that on a recent trip to Saudi Arabia while supporting gym mate Chris Billam-Smith, he had a conversation with promoter Ben Shalom, who promised that he would headline with Cutler if he is successful on Saturday.

"This has always been the goal but I'm trying not to focus on that too much," Cutler told BBC Sport.

"I've got to get through Stevie first and when I do I'll be going up to Ben and making sure he does make that happen for me.

"I feel I was meant to be in this position at this time of my life and I'm now ready for the biggest fight of my career."

Cutler is part of the McGuigan gym under the leadership of trainer Josh Pritchard.

He made the switch to London more than a year ago, moving from a local gym in Dorset after the summer of 2023.

He has spent the past year sparring and preparing with boxers such as gym mate Adam Azim and Jimmy Sains, as well as with Chris Eubank Jr in the build-up to his most recent bout.

Aside from his 14 professional wins, he has just one defeat to his name, losing by TKO to now light-heavyweight Bradley Rea in 2021.

Cutler boxed on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith v Lawrence Okolie at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium

In McKenna's most recent outing, he beat Joe Laws at Barnsley FC's Oakwell home in an eye-catching bout that saw both men touch the canvas in the first round.

"This is the sort of fight that propels me to the next level," Cutler said.

"It's going to be an entertaining fight, it can't not be with both of our styles. I hope it won't be as entertaining as his previous fight with Joe Laws but I'm confident at coming away with the victory.

"The British title is something that I want down the line, I've won the Southern Area and the English title and the British is something I would really like.

"But first I've got to win this WBC International title that Stevie has and that would give me a world ranking with the WBC, it is all a step in the right direction."

McKenna is unbeaten with 15 wins and an impressive 14 knockouts in his professional career.

After Cutler won his English title at the end of 2023, he vacated it after a number of injuries and some fights falling through.

Despite a frustrating 2024, he is looking to close out the year in style.

"It's been a really tough year in and out of the ring," Cutler added. "I'm focused on getting the job done, which I will do. I'm very confident at what we've been doing in the gym."