A CLASH of the Celts takes place this Saturday when Welsh and Irish fighters lock horns at an event that was in real danger of being shelved.

Pill Millennium Centre hosts the showdown between St Joseph’s Boxing Club and a visiting team from Ulster, with more than a dozen bouts scheduled.

A number of financial and logistical problems had almost forced organisers to cancel the contest, but the GMC Union and Thames Valley Construction came to the rescue.

As a result of their support, the transport, flights and accommodation for a touring party of 20 have all been paid for.

St Joseph’s matchmaker Dave Exton has worked hard to set up a series of fights involving reigning national amateur champions from both sides of the Irish Sea.

And the schoolboy and youth fighters on the bill are also out to impress, not just because for most it will be their first taste of international boxing.

The youngsters are going to be keen to show what they can do in front of a bumper crowd that is set to include the likes of St Joseph’s European champion Joe Cordina, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sean McGoldrick and Olympic silver medallist Fred Evans.

“The Irish are historically very good boxers, and if you don’t prepare you’ll come unstuck,” said St Joseph’s coach Bill Reynolds.

“We’ve been on some trips over there in the past and we’ve always been impressed with their standard.

“But we’re looking to give them a run for their money and it should be a close-run thing.”

He added: “If we hadn’t had the sponsors come in we were going to pull the show.

“To put on a show like this probably costs around £1,500-2,000 so they have been very good to us.

“And I think they want to be associated with us a bit because we’ve got the likes of Sean and Joe in the amateurs and the Selbys and Gary Buckland in the pros.

“We’ve been a typical example of success breeding success.”

The boxers weigh in for the show at St Joseph’s on Saturday, when the Irish contingent will also get to meet current world featherweight champion Lee Selby.

The main event gets underway at 7.30pm (doors 7pm) and tickets costing £10 are available on the door.