PADDY Fitzpatrick believes that Luke Watkins will take topping the ‘By Any Means Necessary’ show in his stride.

The 24-year-old cruiserweight will share top billing with IBO super-middleweight inter-continental champion Kelvin Young in only his third professional outing.

And having already boxed on a European title bill at Wembley Arena and in front of 8,000 fans in Germany on a world title show, Fitzpatrick believes that the Duke will be comfortable when stepping out in front of his hometown crowd.

“He will cope fine, he is a level headed dude, he handles pressure,” Fitzpatrick said.

“He tries to put up doubts, but I smash them out of the way and he accepts it and then he deals with everything.

“He has done Wembley for his pro debut and he performed in front of 8,000 in Germany so it is nice now to come home and grab this experience.”

With all the experiences that Watkins has already received in his fledgling professional career, Ferndale Road-based Fitzpatrick believes that the George Groves-managed boxer could even surprise him on the big night.

“There is a difference in thinking you can do something, believing you can do something and knowing you can do something,” said Watkin’s trainer, who will also have welterweight Garvey Kelly making his pro debut on the same show.

“You only know that you can do something after you have done it.

“Duke has done 8,000, a world title show, a European title show and he has fought in Germany. He has done quite a lot for a guy with two fights.

“The sparring that he is getting gives him a lot of confidence, making his pro debut having sparred with Nathan Cleverly, all these factors come in to making him a better fighter.

“I think on November 1 he might even surprise me.”

While several of the fighters, Young and Watkins included, are still to be matched, the show’s promoter Keith Mayo has confirmed that welterweight Kelly will face Matt Seawright, while former England and Walcot amateur Ryan Martin will tackle Kevin McCauley on November 1.