Sam Hickey is a real showman, a member of the Showman's Guild and a native of Dundee. Growing up around travelling fairs, he was surrounded by family showmen who gave him early support and a sense of community.

As an amateur he won the Commonwealth Games, but his weight class was removed from the Olympics. Now a professional, he is 5 fights into his career and has showcased sharp movement, strong counter‑punching and a spectacular knockout of Todd Tompkins.

Hickey idolises Scottish icons like Josh Taylor and Ricky Burns, and he wants to fill the void left by their retirement. He credits early visits from amateur legend Dick McTaggart for shaping his style and confidence in the ring.

He will face ambitious prospect Brad Axe on the undercard of Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha at the 3Arena in Dublin. The fight is a chance for him to prove his entertainment value and solidify his status as a future middleweight star.