SWINDON boxer Luke Watkins is set to top the bill next year as Trifecta host their ‘No Retreat No Surrender’ show at MECA in March.

Not only will the Commonwealth cruiserweight champion be in action, he will be joined by stablemates Ryan Martin and Sam Smith.

So far, Smith is the only fighter with a confirmed opponent. He will go toe-to-toe with 11-1 former ABA champion Kirk Garvey in a final eliminator for a Southern Area title.

But Ferndale Road trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick also revealed that ‘The Duke’ Watkins is set to take part in a title bout, while Martin will be involved in an eight-round contest.

“Sam is going to be in a final eliminator against a guy who is 11-1. Sam has only had four fights – it is not often you see someone who is 4-0 willing to take on someone who is 11-1,” he said.

“I had applied to make Sam mandatory for the title, but they said to fight Garvey because nobody else wants to.

“Sam didn’t hesitate and said no problem and I like that because he wants to be in real fights.

“Duke, as we know, is the Commonwealth champion and he will be on there too in a title fight, and we have Martin in an eight-rounder.

“It’s Trifecta’s third show and we made a bit of a statement with our first promotion and alone this year, as a promotion company, we have got Ryan two title shots and got Luke on Sky Sports and Channel Five.

“Trifecta is making some statements, so we are not retreating from what we have done and we won’t surrender either.

Fellow Swindon boxers Becky Connolly, Bryony Duff, Harry Webb and Bradley Townsend are also set to feature, among others yet to be confirmed.

Fitzpatrick says it is important to get his Swindon fighters out in front of a home crowd.

“It is priority and paramount for these guys to build support at home,” he added. “It’s all well and good fighting away from home but that is not the way to long-term success. You need your town behind you.”