HALESOWEN kickboxing ace Simon Mr. KO Akufo is urging his fans to roar him to victory when he attempts to be crowned European champion for a third time this weekend.

Akufo’s opponent Aaron Robinson is bringing a coach load of supporters to cheer him on at Digbeth’s Irish Centre on Saturday night and the home favourite is hoping his fans will be in fine voice.

He said: “I know my fans can make a venue electric and knowing there will be over 50 of his fans shouting him on means the place should be deafening.

“It will add to the atmosphere that there are two sets of supporters in the crowd and I’m sure the banter between the two will be brilliant and like the two fighters everyone will share a drink after the bout.”

It is first time Akufo has been in the ring since losing his world title to the brilliant Russian Ilya Usachev in a bloody world title unification fight six months ago.

However in his last interview before Saturday’s fight the 31-year-old former Windsor High School pupil is confident of bouncing back with a big win against the 26-year-old Lincoln banger Robinson.

He said: “I’m feeling great now, my weight is bang on target and the hard part of the training is over. “Whilst everyone has been enjoying the sun in beer gardens I have been running up and down the Lickey Hills.

Akufo, who is sponsored by criminal law specialists Hussain Solicitors, added: “I cannot wait for the fight and know that when it gets tough I will want it more than him and I am planning to living up to my name and ending the fight with a KO.”

Akufo knows this is a career defining fight, if he loses he would consider retiring but if he wins he could be fighting for a world title before the year’s out.

Simon Akufo fights Aaron Robinson on Saturday, June, at Birmingham’s Irish Centre in Digbeth, doors open at 6pm and the first fight on the bill starts at 7pm.

For tickets phone 07918 872 571 and follow Simon Akufo on Twitter @MrKoAkufo.