Owen Jobburn believes he will be bigger and stronger than Sam Evans when they clash in a contest where someone’s ‘0’ must go to crown a winner.
They go toe-to-toe in an eight rounder which takes top billing at Walsall Football Club’s Banks’s Stadium on Friday night.
They headline the show in the Stadium Suite, which is promoted by Errol Johnson’s BCB Promotions.
The evening is sponsored by the Grosvenor Casino Walsall, on Bentley Mill Way, and it is a gamble for two undefeated fighters to be taking on each other.
Jobburn, from Stoke-on-Trent, has four pro victories with one TKO while Wednesbury’s Evans is looking to make it a perfect 10, with nine victories and three stoppages so far.
Evans, at 21, is seven years the junior of Jobburn, who will also have his opponent’s coach and boxing legend Ricky Hatton to contend with in the other corner.
The bout was proposed to the British Boxing Board of Control to be for the Midlands super welterweight title, but not passed.
Jobburn reckons this is the final hurdle towards a battle for a belt, though, and is confident he can see off Evans on fight night.
He said: “Sam’s a young lad and a tidy fighter, he’s decent but I think I’ve got the capabilities to beat him. My natural size and strength advantage will come into play.
“This is probably the first time for either of us where the other man is coming to win. It’s a shame it’s not for the Midlands but that’s probably because I’ve only had four fights.
“Whoever wins this is certainly in for bigger and better things and there’s no pressure on me as the away fighter. I can just relax and bring my best.”
He has featured on two Hatton-promoted bills alongside Evans in the home corner, at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on-Trent.
Jobburn debuted there, outpointing Sylwester Walczak and returning to defeat Victor Edagha over-the-distance. He has also previously beaten Dean Croft in the Stadium Suite.
His finest hour in a paid ring came in his last outing, halting Casey Blair by third round stoppage at the Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre.
He said: “I’m coming off my best win and, to be honest, the two times I’ve boxed on a Hatton show I’ve looked poor.
“If they have deduced from that how good I am, they will probably think they are in for an easy night, but they are in for a shock.
“Ricky was my favourite fighter growing up, so it will be a bit weird going up against one of his lads, but I don’t mind upsetting him!”
Chasetown’s Luke Jones is on the undercard, ahead of his quarter-final against Joe Ducker in the eight-man super feather Midlands Boxing Super Series tournament on October 15.
West Bromwich’s Josh Stokes is in light heavyweight action, too, and will then feature on the Jones-Ducker offering at Walsall Town Hall.
Derby-based lightweight Sahib Singh Mann and two super middleweights, Hatton-trained Irishman Chris Blaney and Chad Sugden, from Newark, complete the Walsall FC show.
Tickets, priced at £35 standard or £60 VIP with a two-course meal, are available now by calling the Walsall FC Box Office on 01922 651 414, extension 416.
The Grosvenor Casino are hosting the weigh in and after-show party (over-18s). A number of free cars, supplied by Yellow Taxis, will go from the venue to the casino after the final bell.