Stafford hope topping Civic bill

Stafford's great boxing hope Rob Hunt is used to carrying high expectations on his shoulders - now he faces his biggest test to date as he tops the card at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on September 26.

The light-welterweight slugger faces an as yet unnamed opponent at the reknowned home of West Midlands boxing, a great honour for a boxer who has only 10 professional fights under his belt.

Those 10 bouts have all ended in victory, with boxing enthusiasts in Stafford confident that Hunt can carry the flag of the town in the squared circle.

Stafford have had little to shout about in that regard, with Hunt the only professional boxer in the town, and the only one to have made the grade since the days of Tracey Jocelyn in the 1990's.

Hunt is glad to have the town behind him - it spurs him on.

He said: "People in Stafford are always asking me how I am getting on and a lot of them come to the shows. When I am out and about I tend to get recognised as well.

"People in the town always see me when I am out running and well and give a wave. It is like a scene out of a Rocky film!"

"It doesn't bother me that I carry the hopes of the town on my shoulders. It spurs me on. It is another incentive for me to be the very best that I can be."

Topping the bill at the Civic is one thing but Hunt is aiming high. At the tender age of 22, his best years are still ahead of him and every fighter has an ulitmate ambition to acheive.

For Hunt, the dream is to bring boxing Championship gold to a town starved of it.

He said: "That would be a real dream come true. To bring the British light-welterweight title to Stafford. That would etch my name into the town's folklore forever.

"I know it will be tough, the competition in that weight class is fierce in the Midlands nevermind nationwide, but that is my goal."

To be there for Rob's big night, get your tickets from the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283157.