Unbeaten Islington middleweight Joe Duffy says he has learned not to be complacent after battling back from a first round knockdown in his last fight.

Duffy was floored for the first time in his brief professional career when he fought Ionut Trandafir Ilie two months ago in Germany, but recovered to win their six-round encounter on points.

The former mixed martial arts fighter, who lives in Archway, will be back in the ring later this month when he boxes on Micky Helliet’s show at the Camden Centre, King’s Cross.

And Duffy believes he has benefited from his experience against Ilie as he prepares for his seventh fight since joining the professional ranks at the beginning of the year.

“It was a tough one – getting dropped in the first round was a shaky start and a new experience for me,” recalled the 25-year-old. “But I see it as a good learning experience as well.

“If anything, it showed me just how much I wanted to win and also how I can’t afford to rest on my laurels. After that I felt I won every other round comfortably and from a technical point of view I was fine.

“Afterwards I had three weeks off to recuperate, but since then I’ve been quite active, working hard in training and now I’m looking forward to my next fight.”

Duffy has previously boxed twice at the Camden Centre, defeating Gilson de Jesus on points before recording a third-round stoppage against James Conroy.

Although he is happy to be returning to the venue, Duffy – who will fight an as yet unnamed opponent in another six-rounder – would also be keen to box further afield again in the future.

“It took me back to the days when I was doing MMA,” he added. “You’d spend a few days in the hotel with a bit of build-up – in some ways that’s something I was a bit more comfortable with.

“The German crowd were brilliant and I’d be glad to fight abroad again. But I don’t want to look past this next fight and the Camden Centre’s got a really good atmosphere – I’ve always enjoyed boxing there.”

Helliet’s show, on Friday November 22, also features Islington light-welterweight Charlie Rice, as well as former Islington BC star Aarron Morgan, who is making his pro debut.