Darren Surtees is braced for the hardest fight yet in his professional career as he chases the perfect 10 this weekend.
‘Dazzla’ will fight Troy James over six rounds on the World Boxing Super Series event in Glasgow on Saturday.
The unbeaten Thornley light-welterweight has reeled off nine straight victories, six of them coming inside the distance, but now takes on his second ‘winning fighter’ at the SSE Hydro.
Surtees halted Kane Baker in a ruthless second-round finish on the undercard of Callum Smith’s WBSS final triumph over George Groves in Jeddah at the end of September.
Having done such a good job on the Brummie, the Peterlee-trained prospect will start as a warm favourite in Scotland.
However, coach Dave Binns told punch-lines there will be no complacency as they come up against the Coventry man who has won 20 of his 27 bouts.
“Darren is looking great and he is looking forward to the challenge,” said Binns.
“He understands he’s up against a credible opponent and feels this is a good opportunity to show his true quality.”
Surtees may have to show his quality on the undercard of the WBSS quarter-finals between Josh Taylor and Ryan Martin and Ryan Burnett and Nonito Donaire.
James, at 35, is in the seasoned campaigner character but he showed there’s life in the old dog yet by going in with world title challenger Luke Campbell this year before being stopped in the fifth by the ex-Olympic gold medallist.
Where can you watch the show live.
And James told boxingnews24 that he is out to stop the Surtees express on Saturday.
“There’s no point taking easy fights,” he said. “I’m in this game to fight the best. I fought Luke Campbell at 24 hours’ notice last time out and now I’m up against another dangerous fighter in Surtees.
“My goals are still one step at a time. I’m just going out to win this fight and we’ll re-evaluate after that.
“To beat him would put me right back in the mix and I plan on doing just that.”
Read the full Troy James piece on boxing news24 here
Incredibly, for the stature of this event and the fact two of Britain’s best and undefeated fighters are headlining it there is NO television coverage.
However, you can watch it for free on the WBSS You Tube channel, just get your laptop cranked up on Saturday night.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
