Melero and Thaxton have both previously lost European title shots

Jon Thaxton heads promoter Mick Hennessy's 'Let's Be Having You' bill at the Royal Norfolk Showground.

He fights Juan Carlos Diaz Melero for the vacant European lightweight title on Saturday, but is likely to be sharing the limelight with Herbie Hide.

The controversial 37-year-old takes on Latvian Aleksejs Kosobokovs on the undercard of the televised bill.

The two-time former world heavyweight champion, nicknamed The Dancing Destroyer, now fights at cruiserweight.

But the fact that he has only ever fought in Spain or France leaves Thaxton firmly in the belief that home advantage will count for a lot.

"He's coming into my office, he's going to play by my rules in that boxing ring.

"I've got the people behind me who are really going to push me on, give me that extra 10, 20, 30%, whatever I need to cross that line and become European champion," he said.

Hide is keen to put his troubles behind him

Hide's fight against the Latvian may not be about to set the boxing world alight, but his return to fight in Norwich is significant.

It is 10 years since his 1998 WBO title defence against Willie Fischer, his last fight in his hometown, and he still owns a home within earshot of Saturday's venue.

He says fighting in the cruiserweight division is natural to him, and he has high hopes.

"I was always a cruiserweight, it just happens that I can punch like a heavyweight, I was never truly a heavyweight.

The other highlight of Saturday's bill sees something of an East Anglian derby.

Norwich's Danny McIntosh takes on Steve Spartacus from Ipswich for the vacant English light heavyweight title.