Stephen Simmons and Jon-Lewis Dickinson both say their clash on Saturday night will not go the distance as they meet at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, live on Sky Sports.
Simmons defends his WBC International Silver title against local man Dickinson and the unbeaten Scotsman expects to have too much power for his host.
“Jon-Lewis Dickinson is alright at what he does but I find him very once paced,” said Simmons. “I don’t think he will be able to bring the same work rate that I bring to the table. He has my utmost respect and I have a job to do and that is what I am looking forward to doing.
“His strength is probably his movement and his weakness is probably his work rate and he isn’t able to take a decent shot, as we have seen in his last couple of fights. But we will see how he takes my power.
“I think my work-rate and my power will tell and a stoppage is probably what will happen. But if it goes the distance and I win on points, fair enough. The main thing for me is winning and I don’t really care how I win.
“I see myself at the top of the tree in terms of the division. I am somebody people who hold the titles don’t want to fight. I am definitely up there but I have my mind firmly on doing a job, and then moving on from there.”
Dickinson sees this clash as the perfect opportunity to bounce back from a tough 2014 with a second round stoppage loss to Ovill McKenzie in June losing him his British title and then hitting the deck in the opening round of a British Masters title clash against Courtney Fry in November, which proved crucial as he lost out by a solitary point.
The 28 year old sees Saturday’s clash as the perfect chance for him to line-up a rematch with McKenzie, who successfully defended the British belt against Matty Askin last weekend.
“Simmons is a tough guy,” said Dickinson. “He is a good lad with a pedigree behind him and he is a fighter I have always watched and wanted to fight myself at some point. When I found out Matchroom were going to be doing a show in Newcastle I said to my coach I would like to fight Stephen on that bill and as it happens they offered us the fight.
“Simmons is a strong, come-forward fighter. He has a good pedigree and he was on the GB squad as an amateur. I have watched him and he isn’t too hard to hit. He has the type of style I like to go up against.
“I have trained for a hard ten-round fight and whatever happens on the night I have put everything in to be prepared. He will come and put a lot of pressure on but I feel great, everything has gone well in training and sparring has gone well. I am ready for whatever he brings to the table.”
“Mentally I couldn’t get myself up for the Ovill fight,” said Dickinson. “I was having to force myself to go to the gym, I was having for force myself to do it and it didn’t work. I was being told the game plan in the gym but I didn’t carry it out. It wasn’t me who was in there that night, I know I am a lot better than that.
“I went in frustrated. I had put a lot of weight on, I was 16 and a half stone when I started the eight week camp, which wasn’t good. I have a nutritionist on board now and I have made weight easily this time, whereas when I fought Courtney Fry I didn’t get to under 15 stone until the last week and I had to take it all off on fluid. It wasn’t the right way to do it.
“I saw McKenzie vs. Askin last week for the British title. It wasn’t a nice fight to watch but I suppose, is anybody really going to look good against McKenzie? There was too much holding for my liking but that is another thing and I have had Simmons to concentrate on.
“I would 100 per cent like to fight Ovill again. I have complete confidence in myself that I can beat Ovill. When we fought I stood in front of him and made it an easy fight for him. I basically gave him the fight. I wasn’t myself. Looking back I should have hit him and moved, boxed clever, but I didn’t do that. I stood in front of him and gave him an easy target, so giving somebody like McKenzie and easy target is a stupid thing to do because of the power he carries. But you learn from your mistakes and it is definitely a fight I want in the future to get the win back over him.”
Simmons and Dickinson are part of a massive night of action in the north east as Anthony Joshua MBE makes his comeback against American Prizefighter finalist Jason Gavern and South Shield’s Anthony Nelson faces Dundee’s Jamie Wilson for the vacant Commonwealth Super Flyweight title.
Jon-Lewis’ brother Travis is in action, Jeff Saunders makes his pro debut and there’s a host of unbeaten local talent on the bill with unbeaten Cruiserweight Simon Vallily, Light Heavyweight Jordan King, plus a debut for Lewis Ritson and a second pro outing for Scotland’s Commonwealth gold medallist Charlie Flynn. Liverpool’s World title chasing Featherweight Stephen Smith boxes on consecutive weekends and his Gallagher’s Gym mate Hosea Burton is also in action.
Tickets are on sale now priced £40, £60 and £100 from the Metro Radio Arena atwww.metroradioarena.co.uk and on 0844 493 6666.
