Hartlepool/Horden puncher Greg O'Neil tackles Felix Cash in London

The Real Deal, Greg ONeil (centre) with head coach Peter Cope (left) and coach Alan Temple after the win over Harry Matthews.

The hard-hitting Hartlepool and Horden super-middleweight will take on the unbeaten Berkshire fighter at the York Hall on Wednesday, December 13.

It’s a huge stage for the 26-year-old given the six-round confrontation is likely to be screened live on Sky Sports.

O’Neil has boxed three times this year and all have been crackers and his trainer Peter Cope expects this to be no different.

“Greg is Mr Entertainment, isn’t he?” said the Gus Robinson Developments head coach.

“Cash is one of Matchroom’s boxers on the up and it looks as though they are giving him a bit of a test for him.

“Greg will certainly do that, I’m expecting fireworks.”

The bout forms part of the undercard of Katie Taylor’s maiden defence of her WBA world lightweight title against America’s Jessica McCaskill.

O’Neil has enjoyed a good 2017, his first year back in the ring since 2014.

The exciting fighter, known as ‘The Real Deal’ hammered Zygimantas Butkevicius in a first-round stoppage at Houghton back in March.

And the former Horden Sportsman ABC star followed that up with an even better victory a fortnight later, outpointing local favourite, Harry Matthews on his own turf in York over eight thrill-a-minute rounds.

Maintaining the thrills and spills, O’Neil lost a classic quickfire contest to Diego Costa in Manchester in July.

O’Neil had the unbeaten Brazilian on the canvas twice while he was down three times en route to a third-round stoppage defeat.

“To be honest, Greg could easily be going into this on the back of three wins,” said Cope.

“He was one punch away probably from stopping Costa and he ended up being stopped.

“That’s Greg, in my opinion he’s the hardest-hitting North-East boxer pound-for-pound.

“It’s a difficult job fighting a slick boxer like Cash on a Matchroom show.

“But if Greg hits him, you never know, this is a great opportunity for him.

“He was in decent condition anyway, not fighting shape, but decent.

“We have two weeks to get him ready and one thing’s for sure, Greg will be up for it.”

Cash, from Wokingham, has won all six of his contests, including three first-round stoppages.