Gethin tipped for next step success

The 25-year-old steps into the lion's den against John Watson in his opponents backyard at the city's Echo Arena, with the winner set to become mandatory challenger to John Murray' lightweight crown.

Away crowds are nothing new to Gethin - he beat John Fewkes for the British title in Nottingham and ended Nadeem Siddique's unbeaten record in Wigan.

Now he faces another unblemished opponent with the stakes high, with trainer Errol Johnson believing his man has what it takes to go all the way.

He said: "Martin isn't worried and he is a sharp enough boxer to go all the way, he could bring the British title to Walsall. He is the man in there with the chance to do it, now it's up to him to perform on the night."

"He is really fit and up for this fight, the best I have seen him since he fought John Fewkes for the English title - and we all know how that ended."

Johnson has also trained the two new great hopes from Walsall in new professional Joel Ryan and debutant Bobby Wood, who makes his bow at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on April 3.

Gethin - along with his brothers Darren and Steven - have long been the talk of the town boxing wise as Ryan should well know, he started at the same Walsall Wood ABC gym as the British title contender.

Now Wood enters the fray, with Johnson believing that the future is bright for his charges.

He said: "Joel has the potential to go a long way and, at 18 years old and a full professional, he has the time to take it at any pace he wants. He has made a bright start, now he must continue that.

"The step from amateur to professional is a big one, but someone with Bobby's potential will always have the ability to make it."