Can he/ they do it on a wet, freezing Tuesday night in Stoke?
A tired old tongue-in-cheek saying, a slur more like, to question the credentials of a footballer, or alternatively some fancy-dan team, not to mention slandering a proud sporting, industrial and cultural city.
But it will be here on at hot Saturday July night that Bobby Dalton must do it when he faces Ben Vaughan for the vacant English welterweight title.
And Redcar’s Northern Area champion told punch-lines he IS ready for the fight of his life in the King’s Hall on the 26th.
It might well be required given Northampton’s ‘Bomber’ is 11-1 as a professional, with three early wins. He’ll be coming out of the home corner too.
“Ben is a very, very good lad, but so am I,” said Dalton, who boasts a perfect 10-0 fight log with two vioctories coming inside the distance.
“It’s one helluva fight, it has the makings of a war and that’s what I’ve trained for.
“It looks like my type of fight. I’ve watched a bit of Ben – he’s quite sharp early on. He’s knocked a few out early.
“He is a similar type of fighter to me, non-stop, but no-one has ever put him on the back foot.
“I’m massive at welterweight – I don’t think he’s fought anyone like me before so he could get a shock.”
Vaughan does present clear danger, and not just because of his aggression. The 26-year-old is a southpaw, but Dalton is unconcerned.
“I grew in the gym with Ben Jarvis, who is a southpaw, so it’s not an issue for me,” said Bobby, who has had some top-line sparring.
“I’ve done 10 rounds with two-time Northern Area champion Matt McCallum and the same with Dave Allen’s 18 and 0 Joe Hayden, and both lads have given me great work-outs.”
Both combatants this weekend are Area champions, Vaughan needed just 169 seconds to beat Liam Gould for the Midlands strap in April 2024, while Dalton outpointed Jeff Saunders 96-94 in a gripping Northern contest at Rainton Arena last November.
It will be Vaughan’s third 10-rounder, having been involved in some battle with Ekow Essuman in Birmingham last November. Marcus McDonnell saw it level at 95-all but Terry O’Connor and Lee Every favoured ‘The Engine’ by four and three rounds.
“I watched it and I thought it was close, but I could see why they gave it to Essuman,” said Dalton, who said motivation is high for this confrontation.
“I definitely believe I’m one of the best welterweights in the country and a win on Saturday would put me into the mix.”
Vaughan v Dalton is potentially the fight of the night at the King’s Hall, which is the Potteries’ version of the York Hall in East London or the Borough Hall on Hartlepool’s historic Headland.
The event is being celebrated as the homecoming of Nathan Heaney, a Stoke fans favourite, who dreams of fighting at the bet365 Stadium, though he must account for former Southern Area champion Grant Dennis first.
His return to home soil comes after back-to-back defeats but remains incredibly well supported, selling 1,200 tickets for next Saturday’s show.
That popularity means Dalton has received only 30 tickets.
“I could have sold 10 time that many tickets,” shrugged Bobby.
Victory in Stoke could signal a homecoming spectacular of his own, providing he beats the Midland version of Bobby Dalton.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jason Corbett/ Mindenwood Phptography
