Gethin's new force for title shot
Martin Gethin has vowed there will be a different boxer at work when the Walsall lightweight gets his shot at reclaiming the vacant English title.
The former champion will take on Greame 'Dezzie' Higginson at Altrincham Leisure Centre a week tomorrow, with the belt up for grabs.
Not only does Gethin have the chance to become a two-time titlist with a win against his Blackburn-based opponent, the 26-year-old also has the chance to send a message to British champ John Murray in front of the Sky Sports cameras on the Hatton Promotions bill.
It's also provides the Black Country banger with an opportunity to exorcise some demons after a nightmare run going back to December 2008, which saw the belt go to Scott Lawton on a cut in Nottingham.
Since then the lightweight has been nudged out of a British title eliminator by John Watson and suffered a shock points loss to tough journeyman Chris Long, before stopping the rot by outpointing Birmingham's Jason Nesbitt in June.
Since then a planned English title decider against Stefy Bull and a planned shot at the Commonwealth crown have hit the skids, but a fully fit Gethin has used the time to work on different strategies and styles, which the Walsall puncher believes could catch Higginson out come fight night.
He said: "I have got myself in great shape but I was in good condition anyway, because I was getting fit for the English shot in early December that my opponent pulled out of at the last minute. So it was just about keeping myself ticking over really.
"In training I have been feeling very strong, I have come through 10-rounders sparring with a couple of fast kids pretty good. I have changed my style a bit, I am trying to box a bit more rather then getting sucked into a fight all of the time.
"As long as I stick to that against Higginson, I have got no worries."
