BOURNEMOUTH southpaw Steve Bendall enters a new phase in his career tonight when he clashes with a foreign opponent for the first time as a professional boxer.

The 28-year-old former England amateur international, who lives in Westbourne, goes into the ring against former Philippines champion Bert Bado.

Carnival City in Johannes-burg, South Africa, is the venue for the latest step in Bendall's career.

He is protecting an 11-bout winning record as a professional in the eight-round middleweight contest

Bendall, who has been out of action since December after switching promoters from Chris Sanigar to Dave Lewis, flew out to the South-ern Hemisphere 10 days ago.

Since then he has been preparing for the most important fight of his career with Nick Durrant, who was Sugar Ray Malinga's trainer when he won the WBC World Championship by beating Nigel Benn.

Bendall, speaking from his hotel in South Africa, today said: "Everything is going very well and I am ready to take on Bado.

"I have trained very hard in the gym and have winded down a bit in the last couple of days. I feel good and I'm 100 per cent satisfied with my preparation.

"Bado is quite short so it will just be a matter of keeping it long and picking him off as he comes in."

Bendall, who is boxing on the same bill as defending WBU featherweight champion Cassius Baloyi, has been impressed with Durrant as a trainer.

"My regular trainer Trevor Francis couldn't come out to South Africa but will be with me for the rest of my fights," said Bendall.

"I've enjoyed working with Nick and he has helped me with my altitude training.

"You pick up little bits from all trainers and I have learnt a few things from him. It is all good experience to work with other people as well as your own men." Bendall has come up against foreign opponents in his younger days when he was still an amateur.

So he won't be fazed by the Filippino, who has more than 20 professional bouts under his belt.

The contest, unfortunately, isn't being screened on British television even though it is going out live on a South African television network.

Most of Bendall's pro fights have been on British screens.