It's a real life Rocky story for Martin Gethin

The Rocky movie yarn had the film's central figure come out of nowhere to take a world champion the distance in his hometown and then beat him in a rematch.

Back in the real world, Gethin faces the unlikely prospect of a IBF world title final eliminator at Walsall Town Hall against top-class operator Diaz over 12 rounds.

The Panamanian puncher has already been in for the big belt and took the champion, Miguel Vazquez, the distance and will be No 1 contender again if he wins tonight.

Diaz must be super-confident of victory - another title shot will disappear into the distance if he tastes defeat and he will have the home crowd on his back from the start, too.

They can't throw punches for Gethin, he will think, and the British lightweight champion has only just reached national level, after a years-long chase to his own Holy Grail.

The 29-year-old Englishman has his own face to save, as well. With his family, friends and a BoxNation television audience all watching on, pride could well come long before a fall.

But Gethin doesn't see it like that. With the British title in the bag, he insists he's already gone as far as he wants too, so will box like a fighter with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

He told the Express & Star: "Whatever happens, I am happy, I have reached my goal of winning the British title. And I never thought an opportunity like this would come along.

"I know I had to take this fight. Win or lose, I will have no regrets."

Back in fantasy land, film buffs will recall how Rocky took every shot Apollo Creed had to offer and smothered the world champion to the point he faded - and then crumbled.

And Gethin has never been on the floor - amateur, pro, or even in the gym - with some in West Midlands ring circles believing King Kong couldn't bowl him over, never mind Ammeth Diaz.

Where there's a will, there's a way, Gethin insists, and he warns he will be in Diaz's face from the opening bell to the last in a way that the visiting stylist "won't enjoy at all."

Gethin said: "I believe I can beat him, I wouldn't have took this fight if I thought I was just going to get punched from pillar to post in front of my hometown crowd.

"If he goes in there with too much confidence, he will come unstuck. I don't think he can stop me, so what I have I really got to be worried about in there?

"He won't beat me on speed, either, not with what we have been working on in the gym. It's definitely changed me as a fighter, we have seen it in sparring.

"It's just a case of pushing him back and pressuring him, so he can't load up his fast bombs and I can keep jabbing him off me, then he can't work himself.

"If he's being pushed backwards, he's counter punching and that will cut the effect of his shots in half, he can't get full power if he can't load up his blows.

"I genuinely believe he's not going to like what I have in store for him, he won't enjoy this fight at all. He just won't be able to knock me out of the way."

Gethin won't study videos of his opponents, it only distracts him, but is aware of one thing - for all of his plaudits, Diaz has lost 11 times and has been halted in seven of those.

He said: "I haven't watched much of him, I tend to find out when I am in there, although I know he's fast and can dig a bit. But, obviously, he can get caught himself.

"He's been stopped a few times. He may be a different level but, as far as I am concerned, he's there to be caught."

Tickets for the show, called 'Ready To Silence The World,' are priced at £40 and £75 and are available from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900 or on the door tonight.

The show will also be live and exclusive on BoxNation on Sky Channel 437 and Virgin Channel 546. Join at www.boxnation.com.

By Craig Birch