‘Romford Bull’ Johnny Fisher has ambitions of winning the English and British heavyweight titles this year.

The 24-year-old heads abroad for this first time in his professional career to The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, USA this weekend to meet Ukraine’s Dmytro Bezus over eight rounds.

And Bezus, 34, who lives in Montreal, Canada, is no stranger to facing British opposition - in his last outing in March 2023 at York Hall, Bethnal Green in a WBO European title contest, he was destroyed inside two rounds by Ladbroke Grove’s David Adeleye.

But despite losing his first bout in 11 contests, Bezus will still be a creditable opponent for Fisher, who has five stoppages in his 10 wins.

In fact it will be for the first time that both fighters will be trading their boxing talents Stateside, but Fisher is keen to get back to action after defeating Harry Armstrong for the vacant Southern Area title at The O2, North Greenwich last August.

Unfortunately, unbeaten Fisher sustained a hand injury during that seventh-round victory but the knockout specialist has since recovered.

And he has revealed his 2024 plans after speaking with his Brentwood-based promoter, Matchroom Sport’s Eddie Hearn.

“This year looks promising,” he said. “We sat down with Eddie (Hearn) before Christmas and we have a blueprint where you want to go.

"You don’t want to look too far ahead but we’re looking at the English and British. 

“I won the Southern Area title against Harry which is a great little title to win. It’s got a lot of history behind it.

"Outside the boxing world it’s not well known but inside it’s well respected and there’s always been good fights for it. Harry and I put on a good fight for it and won Southern Area title fight of the year for it. 

“That was the first notch on the belt but you want to keep building and get to English and British because everyone’s aim is to win titles and eventually fight for a World title one day.

"Whether that’s three, four, five years down the line or you might get a shot in 18 months, you don’t know. You just have to keep winning and grafting, and we’re going in the right direction which is what matters. 

“I want three fights this year but hopefully four. After the fight in August, I had a little hand injury which I had to rest. Obviously it’s important to look after your hands as all boxers know but I’m really diligent with that now.

"So hopefully if everything goes to plan we’ll be looking at four fights - Vegas, then back in April or May, one at the end of the summer and then one before Christmas - that would be perfect. But plans don’t always go how you want them to and you have to be ready that things won’t go your way, just like in a fight.”

Also appearing on the glittering Las Vegas bill this Saturday is Brentwood’s middleweight hopeful Jimmy Sains, son of Hornchurch cricketing legend Chris.

Sains will also be showcasing his boxing talents to an American audience for the first time as he takes on Texan Alejandro Avalos over four rounds.

Ilford’s Connor Benn looks to make it 23 straight victories when he takes on American Peter Dobson in the co-main attraction, with all the action on DAZN from 8pm this Saturday.