BEC Connolly will enter the unknown later this month when going toe-to-toe with former world kickboxing champion Rachel Ball over 10 two-minute rounds in an eliminator for the Commonwealth super-featherweight title.

Swindon favourite Connolly, who recorded a confidence-boosting win over Bojana Libiszewska last time out, has only ever fought over a maximum of six rounds from her previous nine fights as a professional.

But the 35-year-old is confident her ruthless fitness regime will stand her in good stead for the possibility of contesting an additional four rounds – and hopes it can inspire her to claim a fourth professional win.

It’s possible this fight, which will take place on Neilson Boxing’s Fight Town 3 card on November 30, will be toughest yet for ‘Lady Luck’ at the Oasis Leisure Centre – a venue where she boasts a two-fight unbeaten record.

Connolly, who is trained by Paddy Fitzpatrick in the town, said: “Me and Rachel are quite similar. We’re both super fit – neither of us have to question our conditioning at all.

“I enjoy three-minute rounds, but this will be a good opportunity to show what I’m made of with a shorter-round format.

“Entertainment-wise, this will be a cracking fight. From the start, I’ve said I’m not interested in being involved in fights where I’m going to dominate.

“Having looked at Rachel, this will be a great fight for the fans, who buy the tickets off me time and time again.”

Walsall-based Ball, meanwhile, suffered her first and only professional defeat earlier this year when losing to Norwegian Katharina Thanderz away from home in February.

At super-featherweight, Thanderz is ranked 12th in the world – 40 places higher than Swindon’s Connolly.

Given Ball’s bout against Thanderz was decided by a majority decision, the 50-50 build-up ahead of this month’s latest fight is justified.

For 28-year-old Ball, she has been channelling her focus on improving fitness levels ahead of the Swindon show.

The Midlands hope said: “It’s the same as always for me, I’m pushing myself and my fitness by putting in the miles on the road and continuing with my strength and conditioning.

“My main coach tears me apart every single session to make sure I’m getting everything he tells me – he doesn’t let me get away with anything.

“It’s about listening to my coaches, doing my sparring and getting through training as best I can.”