The British heavyweight belt has a storied history, with past holders including Henry Cooper, Lennox Lewis, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

As the two fighters made their way to the stage a large screen at the news conference displayed images of those four British heavyweight greats.

“It’s big, it’s prime-time, baby. It’s a special moment. I want to be a part of the history. I want my picture to be up there,” TKV said.

The pair had previously exchanged words over social media but both talked about how the rivalry has softened over time.

“They once asked him what he thought of me and he said he would use me as a tune-up,” TKV explained.

“I took it personally, and he took it personally the way I came at him. There was a bit of back and forth, but over time I respect Frazer a lot.”

TKV enters the contest with a record of eight wins and two defeats since turning professional.

“I expect a war, I expect us to go back and forth. I expect it to be that type of fight,” TKV said about Clarke.

Clarke, from Burton upon Trent, is looking to rebuild momentum in the professional ranks.

He won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and enjoyed a decorated amateur career, including Commonwealth Games gold in 2018 and the 2015 national championships.

Known as ‘Big Fraze’, Clarke turned professional in 2022 and fought for the British title in March 2024, drawing with Fabio Wardley in a gruelling contest.

Wardley, now on the verge of a world-title shot, later handed Clarke a first-round knockout in their rematch, leaving him with a broken jaw that required surgery.

Clarke talked about the ups and down of his career, adding: “I’ll be showing everyone that I love this sport and I’ll give everything to be British heavyweight champion.”