Wayne Alexander will get a shot at the European light-middleweight title providing he beats Joe Townsley in Glasgow on Saturday night.

The Hailsham-based fighter has been lined up to face Italian Paolo Pizzamiglio in London on January 20 after his manager Frank Warren won the purse bids to stage a showdown for the vacant European title.

First, Alexander must successfully defend his British title against Scotsman Townsley in a televised support show to the Lennox Lewis-Hasin Rahman rematch.

Amazingly, this will be 28-year-old Alexander's first defence of the British title he won so chillingly thanks to a third-round knockout of Paul Samuels in Dagenham two years ago.

Injuries and a lack of domestic opportunities have hampered the progress of Alexander, who is regarded as one of the most explosive fighters in British boxing.

His three fights since included a bid for Harry Simon's WBO title in February when Alexander, coming in at just two days' notice, performed creditably but suffered his first professional defeat by fifth-round stoppage.

Alexander said: "I really should have capitalised on my British title big time but I've had a lot of misfortune.

"The way I destroyed Paul Samuels could have been my downfall because nobody wanted to fight me after that.

"I learned a lot from my defeat to Harry Simon and I think my performance proved I was world-class.

"If I'd had six weeks' notice for that fight I think I would have won. But it was a good payday and I'm still British champion."

Alexander beat Townsley seven years ago as an amateur and his professional knockout ratio of 13 in his 17 fights is in stark contrast to his opponent, who has finished just five of his 22 bouts early.

The Sussex ace said: "Joe likes to have a go but he is not the hardest guy to hit. I think it will be an explosive fight and I think I'll come out on top after three or four rounds.

"The home crowd won't bother me but I don't know why I'm having to go to Scotland. I'm the champion and I'm making my first defence.

"But I've always had to do it the hard way and fighters who do it the hard way always come out on top."