Charlie Hickford aims to make it 3-0 this weekend against a dangerous South American stand-in opponent.

The 22-year-old from Medway clinched a TKO win on his last appearance to see off the challenge of Yin Caicedo at the Copper Box Arena back in February.

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On Friday night, featherweight Hickford takes on Darwing Martinez at York Hall - the same venue he won his first pro outing.

He fights Nicaraguan boxer Martinez in a scheduled four-round contest.

Martinez comes in as a late replacement and is far more experienced, the 26-year-old boasting 32 pro bouts, winning eight of those - six by knockout. He’s lost 22 and drawn two.

Hickford had been due to fight Frenchman Kaddour Hmiani – a former featherweight champion in his home country – but he was forced to pull out last Friday with torn biceps.

Martinez is expected to provide Hickford with a good test after stepping in at short notice.

Coach and father Steve Hickford said: “He’s a very tough and durable South American, he comes to fight, he comes to win, he’s a dangerous opponent and we’re looking forward to it.”

In his last fight, ‘Classy’ Hickford beat another South American, Colombian fighter Caicedo. The referee waved that fight with two minutes of the third round remaining, with the Medway boxer taking the victory.

It was another learning curve for the ambitious boxer.

He said: “Sometimes, I felt like I rushed my work a little bit - but it’s one of those things. I’m learning.

“There were a few times that I got him with some shots and I could see he wasn’t in a good way.”

Topping the bill at the Bethnal Green venue is Maidstone’s unbeaten Sam Noakes, defending his EBU European lightweight title against mandatory challenger Gianluca Ceglia.

Promoter Frank Warren said: “This is another card where our elite young stable of talented fighters get the chance to shine at an iconic venue.

“These York Hall shows are a launchpad for our young boxers.”