Stafford light welterweight Rob Hunt is looking to make a statement at the expense of Ben Lawler when the two collide at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Sunday.

It’s a fight that was originally supposed to happen at the Doncaster Dome in May for what would have been Hunt’s first title shot, at the International Masters crown.

The plug was pulled at short notice to cut costs that time but has now been revived as a six-rounder without a belt on the line although defeat of Lawler, a former Midlands champion, will do his standing in the rankings no harm at all.

The two know each other inside out after weeks of training with nothing but the other in mind the first time, with the carrot for Lawler being the chance to exorcise the demons of his last fight at the Civic in March – losing his area title to Dean Harrison inside a round.

‘The Skegness Brawler ‘ has also lost to British title hopeful John Watson since then, but unbeaten Hunt is not expecting an easy ride.

He said: “I am happy with my opponent, it will be a stiff test but if you want to get far in the game you need to beat these kids. I have seen Ben fight before and he throws fast one twos, so I am going to have to push him onto the back-foot.

“I am taller than him and I always use that to my advantage, I have got more distance and I have to use it, not getting close and using the range I will have.

“My thing is my jab and that sets everything up, so that is what I will be playing with.”

Hunt’s manager, Paul Dyche, is hoping to promote his own show at Stoke’s Moat House in November headlined by his boxer going for a title, which would probably see the International Masters crown again be put up-for-grabs.

With it would also come a chance for Stafford’s only professional boxer to bring a belt back to the town.

The 24-year-old said: “I have had all the journeymen I am going to have, I am not bothered what title it is but I want to be a champion by the end of the year.

“I have had a frustrating year but I have learned a lot along the way, trained right up until the fight date only for it to go down the swanny.

“But I have never lost interest in being a boxer.”

For tickets, call the call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul ‘PJ’ Rowson on 07976 283 157.

The show will also be broadcast online live on pay-per view at a cost of just £2.99, through Hatton TV at www.hattonboxing.tv.