STEVE Spartacus today admitted he was in the last chance saloon as he prepared for his next fight.The Ipswich boxer, who returns to action on March 12, believes defeat will signal the end of his career.

STEVE Spartacus today admitted he was in the last chance saloon as he prepared for his next fight.

The Ipswich boxer, who returns to action on March 12, believes defeat will signal the end of his career.

“If I fight and lose, I will quit,” he insisted. “I'm in it to win it - I'm not just going to box for the sake of it because there is not enough money.

“I have to give it everything and I just want to fight but I'm in the last chance saloon.”

Spartacus, 28, has suffered two defeats in his last three bouts after starting his professional career with 16 successive victories.

He lost his last clash, and his English light heavyweight title, when Peter Haymer secured a controversial points win in November.

Spartacus, whose real name is Steve Smith, will appear in the top-of-the-bill event on March 12 at the Newham Leisure Centre in east London. His opponent has yet to be confirmed but it is likely to be 22-year-old Jamie Hearn.

“That would be a good fight,” said Spartacus. “He is explosive, looks the part and comes to fight.”

Spartacus admitted he under-prepared when he lost to Ovill Mckenzie in his only other professional defeat but vowed not to make the same mistake again.

The Suffolk boxer has travelled to Hamburg, Germany to regain his fitness and will be sparring five days a week.

He will be training with WBO world light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei and WBA title contender Dariusz Michalczewski.

“I'm going in with the world's best so it will be a good experience for me,” said Spartacus.

“I'm not in tip-top shape but this opportunity came up and I jumped at the chance.”

Spartacus only fought three times last year and admitted he was looking for a big pay day.

He said: “I have got a flat in Chigwell and one in Ipswich but with the fight not being on television I cannot afford all the bills. I have no sponsors at the moment.

“I'm going to leave Chigwell and train in Ipswich.”

He has had to rent out his London accommodation to another fighter but a victory on March 12 could give Spartacus the money-spinning fight he craved.

He would be in line for a rematch with Haymer or a shot at the WBF world title against current holder Darren Corbett and either of those bouts would probably be screened on TV.