Reece Bellotti is preparing to make Michael Gomez Jnr pay for the dramatic cancellation of their previous fight date.

They fight on Saturday, on the undercard of Jack Catterall-Arnold Barboza Jnr at Manchester’s Co-op Live, for Bellotti’s British and Commonwealth junior-lightweight titles – four months after, on fight night, Gomez Jnr pulled out.

“Michael Gomez Jnr was taken ill in the changing rooms, where he was inspected by doctors and ruled out of the contest,” read a statement released that night, ahead of the date at the same venue. Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn also explained: “It was a bizarre and unique situation.

“I was ringside when I was told to come backstage ASAP. Gomez fell ill in the changing room, he was bent over in pain.

“The doctors took a urine sample, and he had an infection; he was not fit to fight. They completely ruled him out.”

At the height of his emotion that night – when Catterall defeated Regis Prograis – Bellotti, 34, was critical of Gomez Jnr, and ahead of their reorganised contest he said: “The whole build-up was normal. Set ourselves up in the changing room. We came back out, and they come up to us and said, ‘It’s off’. I thought it was a joke.

“I was absolutely fuming. Obviously everyone can see how I lost my head and just went mad in the DAZN interview. I’ve never heard of any fighter out there pull out at that moment of time, where you’re literally about to get wrapped up to fight. I was fuming.

“I’m hopeful that he won’t do the same again and we will actually fight, and I’ll win. Whatever I bring, he won’t be ready for it. The track has been hell on earth this camp. I’ve spilt blood, sweat and tears for this fight. It’s another step closer to winning the British title outright, which will propel me on to bigger shows and get more interest in me.

“There’s loads of doors could open for me. A win on February 15th is definitely going to push me closer to that.”

The anticipation surrounding their fight on Saturday owes largely to the fact that so physical a contest has widely been predicted between he and the 30-year-old Gomez Jnr, and Bellotti said: “My fighting style has changed a bit over the years. I used to just be crash, bang, wallop and just go out and have a tear up the best I can, always looking for knockouts – which I always do regardless as a fighter. 

“Now I’ve got a little bit more brain about me; I’m a little bit older. I’ve got a lot more greys. We’ve learned a lot from the mistakes I’ve made over the years. I’ve been beaten a few times and I’m a more well-rounded fighter now.

“I’ve always loved boxing. I’ve always been told the second you run out of love for the sport, you get out the sport. Now it’s like where my kids are old enough to understand about the sport, I want them to see that their dad is a British champion. Now they understand these things and it’s a good thing for me.”