By Ben Dirs

Cook has lost just one of his 33 paid bouts

As the British sporting press continued to obsess over Posh and Becks' impending assault on Hollywood, it was heartening to catch up with Nicky Cook in the refuge of Roy's Pie and Mash in Hornchurch, Essex.

Just as Britain teems with over-hyped footballing peacocks, it also does a nice line in courteous, down-to-earth boxers and Cook, born not far from Beckham in Stepney, East London, is a fully paid-up member of that club.

The 27-year-old fights American Steve Luevano for the vacant WBO featherweight crown at London's 02 Arena on Saturday, and victory is unlikely to sour this man of Essex.

"My baby girl's three months old and I've just moved into a house in Romford," the former British, Commonwealth and European champion tells BBC Sport.

"Which means I'm boxing now to earn money to support my family.

"Being a dad has its ups and downs, and keeps me up a little bit at night. But it's all worked out all right - she's beautiful.

"And obviously mummy is taking care of it all at the moment - I stay in bed while she sorts things out."

It doesn't make me feel nervous fighting in my own backyard, fighting just down the road from your house is nice Nicky Cook

While his daughter's arrival could have been better timed, Cook is thankful to be fighting for a world title at all after Scot Harrison's last-minute withdrawal last December.

The troubled Scot, then the WBO title-holder, failed to turn up for the pre-fight weigh-in, leaving Cook, who is undefeated in 27 professional encounters, deflated, angry and out of pocket.

"He pulled out 36 hours before the fight and I'd been in training camp for three months," says Cook, who marked time with an eight-round decision over South African journeyman Harry Ramogoadi.

"So it was like, for ***** sake, what's going on here? Is it all worth it? Is this what boxing's come down to?

"For a short while I thought my chance had gone, but [promoter] Frank Warren always assured me I'd be given another world title shot.

"Obviously it was disappointing, but I got my head round it, got back in the gym and got myself in shape for this fight."

Cook has sold 500 tickets ahead of the big night while 10,000 people are expected for the first ever boxing show at what was the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.

While his 26-year-old opponent, who has lost just one of his 33 paid bouts, maintains he will not be rattled by what is sure to be a fierce reception, Cook reckons otherwise.

"It doesn't make me feel nervous fighting in my own backyard, fighting just down the road from your house is nice," says Cook.

"But it will be hostile for him. Any human being would be fazed if there's 10,000 fans and you've got no-one on your side."

And while Cook is adapting to the demands, and nocturnal wails, of a new-born baby, Luevano hasn't made life any easier for himself by choosing to fly into the UK just five days before the fight, a decision Cook finds odd.

"It's been a long journey for him," says Cook. "He's flown in from California and landed on Monday, so he's now got to get used to the time difference as well as the hostile crowd."

Luevano is a tall, rangy southpaw, and, although Cook admits he has not met anyone like him before, he is confident his preparation, including two weeks in Tenerife with London welterweight Michael Lomax and Commonwealth super featherweight champion Kevin Mitchell, has been spot on.

"I've had great sparring. Michael Lomax was my chief sparring partner, because he's a tall lanky southpaw like Luevano," says Cook.

"But because Michael's a welterweight, it should be that much easier against Luevano on the night.

"Luevano's a good fighter, a counter-puncher, and he tells me [Cook adopts a cod American accent], 'I make you miss, I make you pay.' That's what he says! But we'll have to see on the night."

If he manages to fulfil his dream on Saturday, Cook says he would like to defend his belt twice before moving up to the talent-rich super featherweight division, in which Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez ply their trade.

And, ultimately, Cook would like to follow in the footsteps of Manchester's Ricky Hatton, who wowed American fans with his demolition of Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas last month.

"Ricky's done fantastic in his career and made a name for himself in America," says Cook.

"Fair play to him, and Joe Calzaghe, they've both done a fantastic job. If I can get close to matching those two, I'll be very glad."