Bobby Dalton will be wearing more than just a shiny new belt if he can get the better of Ben Crocker in Newcastle.
The World Boxing Organisation’s Inter-Continental welterweight title is not the only reward up for grabs at the Vertu Motors Arena, where Jobes Boxing promote for the second time inside four months.
A WBO world ranking will follow but, and here’s the big but, the winner is guaranteed a crack at the Lord Lonsdale belt after the British Boxing Board of Control designated this England v Wales showdown as a final British championship eliminator.
The motivation level therefore is somewhere near the top of the scale as Jordan Williams, the in-form coach who trains the Redcar crowd-pleaser.
“It’s a huge fight and a huge opportunity,” Jordan told punch-lines.
“This is a potentially life-changing moment for Bobby.
“Every fighter wants to win the British title and Bobby fully understands how big a moment this is.
“He has the chance to go from these local shows to be in with the big boys.
“The improvements in Bobby this year have been sensational.”
Given Redcar’s former English champion already possessed one of the best engines in boxing, that nugget of news from Williams could mean he is now some force.
Dalton had won the national belt with a small-hall classic scrap against Ben Vaughan 12 months ago, under the coaching of dad, Bobby Snr, only to lose it to Joel Kodua on the BBC in November.
The 27-year-old switched to the Twins Academy in Trimdon this year to work with Williams, the coach of British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Troy Williamson. The boxers had previously been old team-mates under Craig Carney at the Phil Thomas School of Boxing gym in Middlesbrough.
“Bobby has gone from strength to strength, especially understanding the things that needed to change in his game and his ability to take criticism on board,” said Williams.
“He’s constantly asking questions and constantly improving.
“He’s been an absolute pleasure to train and I’m fully expecting him to come out with the victory on Saturday.”
It will be a stern test for Dalton, who is under the Shamrock Promotions banner, against a very good operator in Crocker.
The two rivals have similar records – Bobby’s fight log reads 12-1, with two early victories, while Ben also has two wins inside the distance in his stats of 15-1-1.
Both been involved in three 10-rounders in their recent outings.
Crocker won the IBF European light-welterweight title by outpointing US-based Greek boxer Stelios Papadoulos, before retaining it with a draw against Ireland’s Tiernan Bradley.
He lost the belt last September when he was outpointed by Belfast’s Sean McComb in Sheffield.
Since losing ownership of their belts, Dalton has outpointed Ezequiel Gregores at Eston Leisure Centre in June while Crocker did likewise against Jack Swallow in Neath in May.
“Crocker is a great fighter,” said Williams. “But people who’ve watched Bobby know that he is a very hard man to be denied.
“I’m expecting a clinical performance on Saturday and then move on to the British title next.”
Dalton v Crocker is just one half of an England v Wales double header at the Eagles.
Cyrus Pattinson, Alnwick’s all-action southpaw, meets Welsh champion Willy Gilheaney for the WBO European welterweight title in the other.
The rest of the bill is made of the region’s best talent, including Josh Babb, Josh Blenkiron, Nathan Cummiskey, Sophia Maycroft, Joe Miller, Owen Rees and Lee Rogers.
Words: Roy Kelly
