Stafford’s only professional boxer Rob Hunt believes he can overpower old foe Ben Lawler and take home his first title next month.

Hunt and Lawler will vie for the British Masters crown in a rematch of their main event at Wolverhampton Civic Hall last month, this time at the Moat House in Stoke on November 11.

It will be 10 rounds rather than six and a step up to welterweight for the two light welters, for the belt vacated by Sean McKervey ahead of his shot at Stourbridge’s Midlands champion Kevin McCauley on December 4.

It’s been a long road to his first title opportunity for Hunt – and it’s not counting the 15 unbeaten contests it has taken for him to get into contention.

Finding an opponent has been a huge problem for his manager Paul Dykes, who had lined up the likes of Jay Morris and even former English title contender Peter McDonagh for his top prospect.

Each time the fight fell through but at one point even a Midlands title shot was in the works, for the light welter belt vacated by Wolverhampton’s Dean Harrison, against either Derby’s Jack Perry or Northampton’s Leonard Lothian.

In the end it came back to Lawler, who was one of the first names under consideration, but was floored and lost on points the first time out.

Still, ‘the Skegness Brawler’ showed true grit to beat the count after a crunching body shot sent him crashing to the ground and the former Midlands champion will be anxious to get his own back.

However, Hunt believes he can again hurt his co-challenger and get the job done inside the distance.

He said: “I wouldn’t mind a stoppage and it c0uld happen, as I thought he was tiring towards the end of the last fight.

“I can’t let him close me down, I have got to use my reach and not get tangled up with him, because he was getting inside and holding a lot last time.

“I need to get him on the ropes and unload, he was wincing when I knocked him over last time and I didn’t think he was going to get up!

“I will be looking for those sort of shots again because I know he can be hurt, I have the edge on him and I am confident I am stronger than he is.

“That’s the incentive for me, to go one better and put him down for good this time.”

Tickets are still available for Hunt’s title quest, on a three-fight dinner show.

They are priced at £80 each or £750 for a table of 10, with each seat including a three-course meal and entertainment from a live comedian.

For more information, call 07769 254 545.