CANARY WHARF, LONDON -- Junaid Bostan couldn't help but laugh and neither could most observers within the rows of seats yards away, watching it unfold.

Almost like a sitcom scene, or car-crash television programme, you couldn't help but keep your eyes fixed bracing to see how it all ended. This relaxed, lounge area backdrop midweek was overshadowed by a tense back-and-forth between two very different boxers awaiting their co-feature showdown on Matchroom's NXTGN card.

Bilal Fawaz channelled his best Chris Eubank Snr impression, repeatedly calling Bostan a pretty boy and criticising the 22-year-old's level of opposition, insisting he would wipe the mischievous look off his face come fight night.

"I've come so far in a short space of time, that should rattle anyone I'm going to be facing. Didn't even win the Southern Area title in my weight class, had to go up to middleweight, keep on drinking water to step on the scale and make weight! This is a huge moment for me to change everything, my life has been an unpredictable rollercoaster, so this is sensational.

"I'm not condemning you in any way, it's okay to have confidence but there are lions, tigers and cats. I've seen what you can do and in my mental state of mind, I've annihilated you. I can assure you, have all the preparation but what happens if it doesn't work? You see that smile on your face, hope you keep it after the fight."

This was the final press conference, 48 hours before doing battle from indigo at The O2 on Friday night, shown live worldwide on DAZN. As far as Bostan is concerned, Fawaz (9-1, 3 KOs) is here to purely make up the numbers and resembles another stepping stone en route to world title contention in future.

Fawaz weighed in at 152.5lbs, the second-lowest of his career, while Bostan was also under the 154-pound limit at 135.5lbs -- the exact same as he came in against Jack Martin on April 27, scoring an eighth-round stoppage to win their title eliminator.

Since the title's inception in 2003, 11 different boxers have won English super-welterweight honours though none have managed to bridge the gap between domestic and world level.

Only one, Brian Rose (32-8-1, 8 KOs) boxed for a world title and the Birmingham-born challenger had lost every round before Demetrius Andrade stopped him in round seven to retain his WBO championship in June 2014.

Bostan's promoter Eddie Hearn insisted that the Rotherham southpaw is a "superstar waiting to happen" but with a target on his back and ever-increasing attention that comes with it, needs to show why he's nicknamed Star Boy.

"The English title is what he wanted for a long time - gives you the ability to fight for British and bigger titles. He's been in a couple of tests, now he's in a real one and you'll see the best of him," Hearn insisted during their portion of the presser.

Bostan echoed that sentiment, giving an anecdote about how most Rotherham boxers tend to cap their ceiling out at English title level, having seen multiple compete for those honours across various weight divisions at the 3,500-capacity Magna Centre as a budding enthusiast before turning professional in 2022.

"It means a lot, I'm 22 years of age, my ceiling is further along. You may have your moment but it won't be with me, maybe after I vacate. He can fight for it once I get rid, good luck to him but come Friday, it's not his night," Bostan responded.

Sam Gilley (18-1, 9 KOs) will defend his British title against Louis Greene (17-4, 11 KOs) in a rematch of their absorbing October 2023 contest.

Bostan feels he'd beat both, as well as Ishmael Davis and Lee Cutler - the latter vacated this strap before a career-best win over Stephen McKenna in December - but can't get ahead of himself when forecasting the future.

In conversation with The Ring before Wednesday's televised media section, the unbeaten prospect (10-0, 8 KOs) spoke about staying focused on the task at hand.

"Compared to others, you usually see it in my face when I lose weight but don't balloon up between fight dates, am always fit and in condition. If I don't cross this hurdle, none of that is to come. I have the stature to go up in weight but haven't got the size, I'm growing and building, so it will too. I'll be at super-welter for the foreseeable, then move up after I do my thing."

Unhappy with fight delays and a stop-start 2024, he is targeting three or four outings in this calendar year and learned a lot from the last twelve months.

"Three fights is realistic but I'll bite your hand off for four. Just want to keep growing as an athlete, a person, boxer and as a brand. Life outside the gym, you've got to take it into consideration. A calm lifestyle and mind creates a calm space to perform in the ring. I'm still growing, maturing as I go along."