It is becoming the norm for the great and the good of the boxing world to assemble at Riyadh Season events but Monday’s London press conference to promote next month's outstanding Last Crescendo event taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 22 was particularly star-studded.

Brad Rea (20-1, 10 KOs) could be excused for being a little taken aback as he took to the dais to promote his upcoming light-heavyweight fight with Sweden’s undefeated Constantino Nanga (12-0, 8 KOs).

The card is headlined by the undisputed light heavyweight title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol but, whether Rea looked left or right, the 26-year-old from Stretford was surrounded by some of the biggest names in world boxing.

“I’m just grateful for this opportunity to be here,” Rae said. “I feel like I’ve won some kind of competition to be up here with everyone but I’m not here to make the numbers up."

Four years ago, Rea appeared to be one of the most promising young middleweights in Britain. Without ever having a permanent television deal, he took every opportunity he was provided with and scored outstanding first-round knockouts of fellow unbeaten prospects Lee Cutler and Craig McCarthy.

Eventually, his run came to an end when outpointed by Tyler Denny in an English title fight in November 2022. A loss to the future European champion is nothing to be ashamed of but the defeat sent him tumbling out of favour.

Rea has spent two years rebuilding and has made a couple of significant changes.

Firstly, he decided to leave Ricky Hatton’s Hyde setup and relocated 50 miles west to Blackpool where he's now trained by Andy Abrol at his thriving Sharpstyle gym.

He has also given up on trying to boil his broad 6ft 3in tall frame down to 160lbs, now campaigning at 175lbs and a third-round stoppage of former Northern Area champion Adam Hepple on November was his sixth consecutive win.

Rea has been crying out for a domestic title shot but, given the magnitude of the event he is about to be involved in, he leapt at the opportunity to face the heavy-handed Nanga, for whom former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis acts an an advisor.

“I’ve been rebuilding myself over the last two years, fighting on the small hall circuit, begging for a big opportunity and chance - this is mine,” Rea said. “The phone rang on Wednesday night. I didn’t ask who. I didn’t ask how much. I said, ‘Yes.’”

“This is my opportunity now to get my foot back in the door and I plan on grabbing the bull by the horns.

“How’s it gonna go? With me getting my hand raised at the end of the night. That’s all that matters but I know His Excellency is a big, big boxing fan. He likes entertaining fights and he likes knockouts. I’m not saying I’m as talented as some of the people up here but I bring entertainment every single fight now matter what. I plan on putting on a show.”