Martin Gethin joins Walsall FC for training
Martin Gethin today vowed he's ready for the long haul in his British title shot after hitting the training beat with the players at Walsall FC.
The Saddlers welcomed the hometown hero to their Essington base this week ahead of his big fight at Walsall Town Hall next Friday night, live on BoxNation.
Gethin was also invited to Walsall's televised 2-0 win against Portsmouth at the Banks's Stadium last week and was introduced to supporters at half-time.
The 29-year-old will jostle with Ben Murphy for the vacant British lightweight title on fight night, along with the also up-for-grabs Commonwealth belt.
The former two-time English champion was made No 1 contender to the British crown in October, after winning the IBF International title and a world ranking.
Murphy lost a British title shot in 2011 at light welter but took the fight at two days notice, battling bravely before he was stopped in the 11th round by Ashley Theophane.
Gethin said: "Ben is a tough man, Theophane didn't get the chance to move until the later rounds and I know he's going to try and do the same to me.
"I have got to bang the jab out in his face all the way through, sting him with some shots and, hopefully, that will slow him down a bit.
"He's not going to be able to eat it all night, not after I whip a few body shots in and follow up with uppercuts, I will really be going for it.
"He doesn't stop coming forward but I can go forward and backwards and, when he's pegged back, we will see how tough he really is.
"It's going to be a good fight, maybe it could even be fight of the year."
The show is a 1,800 sell out but will be live and exclusive on BoxNation on Sky Channel 437 and Virgin Channel 546. Join at www.boxnation.com.
Walsall Town Hall's Box Office have started a waiting list, should more tickets become available. For more information, call 0845 111 2900.
