Sutton lightweight boxer Cassius Connor is putting himself through the mill ahead of next month's International Masters Silver challenge.

The 27-year-old has been sparring with the IBF super bantamweight champion Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton at the Lansbury ABC gym in Poplar, east London.

Connor said: “Six rounds of sparring with someone so skilful and accurate will always be beneficial for me.

"This guy will be world champion one day and sparring regularly with a fighter of that calibre is only going to improve me in every aspect.”

Tiger Bay’s super bantamweight king Frampton used the sparring with Connor as valuable training experience for his forthcoming rematch with Kiko Martinez in Belfast on September 6 to defend his IBF crown.

On a packed Goodwin Promotions show at the famous York Hall, Bethnal Green, on July 12, Connor was due to do battle with tough Bulgarian, Kristian ‘The Warrior’ Dochev.

However, he has been pulled out of the scheduled fight and been replaced with the number one ranked Bulgarian lightweight Yordan Vasilev.