TYRONE NURSE will take on Frenchman Yves Mesney at Sheffield on Saturday with trainer Chris Aston insisting: “It’s a big show – and we’re going for a big performance.”

Hopes of the Huddersfield light-welterweight going for a title on the Kell Brook versus Hector Saldivia Sky Sports undercard at the Motorpoint Arena have failed to materialise.

But Aston, who claims potential British opponents are unwilling to face his fighter, reckons there’s still plenty of interest in Nurse’s 25th professional contest.

There’s still just the one loss on the 22-year-old’s card, against Leeds’ Adil Anwar in the Prizefighter final back in February.

And Aston is expecting a 24th victory against Dijon-based Mesney, a 28-year-old who is fresh from winning the Tournoi de France.

“It’s a bit like Prizefighter, but the bouts are over eight rounds, like Saturday’s will be, and each stage is on a different night,” he explained.

“The fighter Mesney beat (Karim Aliliche) is also on Saturday’s bill, so there will be some interesting comparisons to be made.

“As always with foreign opponents, there’s an element of uncertainty over what we’re facing, but as part of a learning process, that’s no bad thing.

“What we do know is that Mesney is ninth in the French rankings, just like Tyrone is in the British, so it’s a decent match.

“It’s frustrating that we couldn’t find a British opponent and have a belt up for grabs, but some people don’t want to know about fighting Tyrone.

“The plus is that our training camp has gone well and this show provides a great stage for boxers to catch the eye, so that’s the plan.”

Aston is running a coach from the Foresters Arms at Crosland Moor (ring him on 07917 881114 for details) to a show which also features Halifax’s Scott Gladwin.

The 24-year-old bantamweight meets Khalid Yafai, who won an Olympic bronze in Beijing but didn’t get in the London 2012 team and so turned professional.

Sheffield favourite Brook fights Saldivia, of Argentina, for the No1 contender position for the IBF welterweight title.

The 26-year-old, trained by Dominic Ingle, has promised to avenge Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986.

“'There’s a strong sporting rivalry between England and Argentina, and I’m going to do my bit to settle an old score. I hope the nation gets behind me,” he said.

Brook will be looking to extend his unbeaten record to 29 fights against Saldivia, who has 41 wins from 43 bouts, including 32 knockouts.

“This is going to be the toughest fight of my career,” he added.

“Saldivia is a dangerous opponent and I really need my fans to get behind me. Their support can spur me on.”

In the chief support bout, Doncaster’s Jamie McDonnell meets Nicaraguan Darwin Zamora in an intriguing IBF bantamweight world title eliminator.

And Edinburgh’s Kenny Anderson and Runcorn’s Robin Reid fight for the vacant British super-middleweight crown.