Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd says he’ll drag Tom Stalker into a fight when they meet for Dodd’s Commonwealth Lightweight title at the Echo Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
Dodd puts the title on the line for the first time against Stalker, who has branded the popular Birkenhead man as ‘terrible’ in a feisty build-up.
‘Masher’ has brushed off the jibes from the London 2012 Team GB Olympic captain as he looks to continue his fairytale rise – and the champion has launched his own attack on Stalker, claiming the challenger will crumble when he drags him into a war.
“The pro game is about fighting and he cannot fight to save his life,” said Dodd. “It’s a tough fight, he was GB captain and he wants the fight so he thinks he can beat me easy. I get the credit from my fans and that’s all that matters to me. I will fight anyone to forward my career, and Tom’s next – he doesn’t respect me now but he will at the end of the night.
“I don’t think that Tom really believes in himself as a pro, because if he did, he would have achieved something by now. He might have believed in himself in the amateurs, but I don’t think he does in the pros and the pro game is about fighting and I don’t think he can fight.
“He can box, he’s a great boxer, but anyone can box for a couple of rounds but this is the fight game where you have to stand there and fight and he doesn’t believe in himself to do that and that’s why he hasn’t done anything as a pro.
Dodd and Stalker clash on a stacked bill on Merseyside as Paul Butler and Stuart Hall rematch in an eliminator for the WBA World Bantamweight title.
Liverpool’s Rocky Fielding defend his British Super-Middleweight title for the first time against Scotsman David Brophy, who puts up the Commonwealth strap he won in fine fashion in Australia in March.
Controversial Hackney man Ohara Davies looks to get back to winning ways as he challenges Tom Farrell for the unbeaten local favourite’s WBA International Super-Lightweight belt.
Two more Team GB Olympians Anthony Fowler and Natasha Jonas fight on home turf for the first time in their second fights in the paid ranks, and there’s also action for Craig Glover.
Tickets are on general sale priced at priced £40, £60 and £100 at www.echoarena.com and on 0844 8000 400 – with VIP tickets priced at £200 exclusively available at www.matchroomboxing.com
Face value tickets for September 30 are also be available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ . StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua.
