A chance meeting with top promoter Frank Maloney has belatedly opened the door to boxing success for Leigh's Danny Percival.

At 27, the heavyweight thought his chance at the big-time had gone. Although compiling a solid record of 10 wins in 14 amateur fights, he was flitting from job to job to fund his training at London's Broad Street Gym.

But when he was enthusiastically dealing with some yobs as a nightclub doorman one night, fate stepped in.

For watching his exhibition was Maloney, who happened to live nearby. The impressed promoter snapped Percival up and christened him "The Doorman" - and the boxer can't believe his luck.

He recalled: "There was a scuffle at a club where I was working in Kent and I was, how can I put it....asking people to leave quietly!

"But Frank Maloney had been watching and he came up afterwards and started talking about boxing. He asked me if I wanted to turn pro and I said I did. He's a well-known and respected promoter and you have to link up with these people if you want to further your career.

"I'm really enjoying it. The money's not great at the moment as I'm only just starting out, but the rewards are there if you work hard."

Percival, who turned pro last October, is a former Thai boxer who switched to the Queensbury Rules and inflicted the only amateur defeat on Horndon's "Big" John McDermott.

He chalked up victories in each of his first two professional bouts and returns to the ring for his third at Bethnal Green's York Hall on Saturday night.

The 6ft heavyweight takes on Blackpool's Eamonn Glennon, and is quietly confident of beating a journeyman who was battered into a first-round defeat by McDermott in January.

He said: "Training has gone well. I'm fitter and I'm moving well. I've got two fights in quick succession now, but I'm happy with that as I can't afford to hang around.

"I'm 27 and I've got to keep busy as I'm getting old for a boxer! Eventually I want to be put in for the southern area final and then hopefully the British title."

If all goes as expected at York Hall, Percival will then return to the ring on April 3 on the same bill as another Leigh fighter, Danny Hunt.

Lightweight Hunt will be making his comeback after being forced out of his last contest by a cut to his head.

Lucky break - Danny "The Doorman" Percival

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.