EVER since an 85-second stoppage on his professional debut against Mario Oliveira, Emmanuel Buttigieg (7-0, 1 KO) has been steadily building up the experience and travelling the country while doing so as the 20-year-old middleweight steadily makes headway in the paid ranks.

A disguised left hand atop the head scrambled the Portuguese man's senses, with referee Hugh Russell Jnr waving their four-round contest off prematurely on the Michael Conlan vs. Jordan Gill undercard in December 2023.

Since then, Newham resident Leli has boxed back in Belfast, Sheffield, Leeds and closer to home with two London appearances during an active 2024 campaign. He went the distance and has banked 34 rounds' pro experience in a six-fight span, scoring three knockdowns against notable European journeymen who've similarly been tested by similar prospects.

IBF European junior-lightweight champion Ben Crocker (14-0-1, 2 KOs) and light-middleweight talent Junaid Bostan (10-0-1, 8 KOs) feature within some of Buttigieg's opposition, paid to test and provide invaluable work as youngsters step forward in the careers.

Jimmy Sains (9-0, 9 KOs) and Stephen Clarke (6-0, 1 KO) are at different stages of their development at 160-pounds, though they - and others in their age-group - will be keenly aware of how quickly things can change. George Liddard's recent progression is testament to that.

Buttigieg, a four-time National champion and GB gold medallist as an amateur, is blessed with sharp fundamentals but needed tests like his competitive six-rounder against James Todd (4-5-2) on January 31 to remind him there's still work aplenty before he can fully throw caution to the wind as opposition quality increases.

During fight week, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn said: "James is a big step-up from where Leli has been fighting, but we know he's going to perform better against guys who come to fight. When you bring a prospect through, a lot of the time when you don't perform, you'll still win... not against Todd. I love the fact he's taking it, you can't get it wrong."

He didn't. Sure, he was hit plenty, particularly at close-range by hooks and uppercuts, though Todd's face was swelling fast and the Welshman's left eye wore most of the damage through three rounds, en route to a 58-56 points nod on Mark Bates' scorecard.

Todd, involved in a thrilling five-round firefight last November against 2022 Commonwealth bronze medallist Aaron Bowen (5-0, 3 KOs), was brought back into the fold on short-notice and enhanced his reputation further despite defeat, one where Leli's use of distance and speed advantages served him well - even if he couldn't help himself in gruelling exchanges at times.

Said to have sparred WBO's No. 4 ranked junior-middleweight contender Josh Kelly (16-1-1, 8 KOs) and others, the Al Smith-trained talent told The Ring that he only allowed himself a week off from the gym after his toughest test yet and while illness stopped him from returning sooner, he'll have two more bouts less than a month apart, fitness permitting.

Nicknamed "The Maltese Monster", the imposing youngster still has several gears to realise as he builds his base. Seven mile runs, regular strength-and-conditioning sessions and staying disciplined in Bromley's iBox gym will all help round out his frame, for it's easy to forget his 20th birthday was just last month.

A pair of six-round contests against opponents TBC, first in Sheffield on Dalton Smith's undercard next Easter weekend before a home outing at the Copper Box on the bill when Johnny Fisher seeks to banish any doubts in his Dave Allen rematch on May 17.