A London Colney boxer has been given a chance to shine at one of British boxing’s showcase events of the year.

Ollie Pattison will share the ring with former heavyweight world champion David Haye at the O2 Arena on May 21 after being named on the same bill.

Haye Day II follows on from the success of the former champion’s comeback fight in January.

Haye has chosen to fill the undercard with up and coming British fighters, including light-heavyweight Pattison.

The Herts fighter said keeping the news quiet was difficult, such was his excitement, but following the official announcement, he was free to talk.

And the 26-year-old is needless to say a bit excited at the opportunity.

“I’m buzzing,” Pattison told the Herts Ad. “It’s a massive opportunity for me to be on a show with someone like David Haye who has been there and done that.

“It will be my fourth fight and that’s where I want to be.”

The opportunity came about from his management team, Goodwin promotions, who had helped set-up the undercard for the first Haye Day.

Sixteen-thousand were in attendance at that first event but it was viewed by millions on television and online.

And it is that reach that could help propel Pattison to the next level.

He said: “It’s important because there’s a lot of up and coming boxers out there.

“And boxing doesn’t pay great at the beginning of your career. You still have to fit a job around your training.

“So if you really want to go further you have to get your name out there.

“A lot of boxing fans will see the undercard so I’ll get noticed by a lot more people if I put on a good show.”

He met the man himself at the official launch last week, and while the pair didn’t talk about Pattison’s career, he was able to grab a few words.

He said: “I thanked him for having me on the card. He’s a really nice bloke, down to earth.”

Haye said: “I’m delighted to add some of the best young British fighters to the bill and we are working to make sure their challengers will be equally as impressive to ensure action-packed fights throughout the card.

“January’s event was an overwhelming success but we’ve listened to the fans and, in association with Goodwin Promotions, are putting together an undercard that will provide plenty of excitement and entertainment to ensure both hard-core boxing fans, and those new to the sport, are left on the edge of their seats.”

Pattison was scheduled to fight in his third professional bout at the York Hall on Saturday but that fight was cancelled after his opponent, Czech Republic’s Radek Geissmann, failed to meet the weight.

Fortunately he has found a place on the card on Saturday week where he will face a Bulgarian fighter.

From then on though the focus will be firmly on the O2.

He said: “I’ll have 10 days chilling out with a few workouts and runs. You have to give your body a chance to recover as I don’t want to burnout.

“Then I’ll have seven or eight weeks at training camp to ensure I’m in the best possible condition.”