Gilley said he has been dreaming of becoming a British champion since he took up boxing at the age of 11, and the chance to do so at the home of his beloved Tottenham is an opportunity he does not intend to waste.
“I went to the first Benn-Eubank fight as a fan and I thought, ‘Imagine fighting here, it’d be quite daunting,’ but since the fight’s been made, it’s not daunting at all. It’s just filling me with excitement,” he said.
“I went back to Portman Road to watch Ipswich in the Norwich game because I’ve become quite pally with [Ipswich forward] Sammie Szmodics, and going back to the stadium was horrible [after drawing there].
“I don’t want that feeling going to Tottenham every week. But that’s not really come into my head because I am so confident for this fight. It is just going to be one magical evening for me.
“I’ve known Conor for a long time. We’ve been sparring for a long time, so to be on a show of that magnitude [is great]. This is so beyond a dream for me, even when I was there as a fan, I didn’t think I could box here one day.
“Until I got the phone call saying you’re on that show, I couldn’t imagine me boxing at Tottenham. I have to pinch myself every day with this opportunity I’ve got.”
Sam Gilley was speaking to BBC Essex’s Sonia Watson
