Tommy Martin says he is ready for 12 rounds of ‘pure war’ after clinching the biggest fight of his career.

The unbeaten St Neots talent will begin 2016 with a bang by taking on John Wayne Hibbert for the Commonwealth Super-Lightweight title in London. The exact date and venue for the late January showdown are still to be finalised.

And Martin (pictured right) can’t wait to take the next step up the ladder to world stardom by stretching his proud, 13-fight unbeaten record.

He said: “Myself and John Wayne have sparred each other hundreds of times, but this time it is for real.

“I’m preparing for 12 rounds of pure war because he puts everything on the line just as I do.

“I’ve seen a lot of people calling it a 50/50 fight, but I’m more than confident I can get the job done.

“My team always take the right fights at the right time and we believe this one will put us onto the big stage once and for all.

“It is the biggest fight of my career so far. It blows everything else out of the water and it can’t come soon enough.”

Hibbert (30) has won 16 of his 19 fights and also holds the WBC Inter-Continmental Super-Lightweight belt.

He captured both titles with a rematch success over Dave Ryan at the O2 Arena in London back in September.

Martin won the vacant WBA Continental Super-Lightweight crown by stopping Michael Devine on the same bill.

Martin will prepare for the all-Essex battle (he hails from Chelmsford while Hibbert lives in Horndon-on-the-Hill) by sparring with two-weight world champion Ricky Burns.