Butler vs Hall: Sean Dodd says Olympian Tom Stalker can't handle the professional game
Wednesday 27 September 2017 17:38, UK
Sean Dodd has taken a swipe at Saturday's opponent Tom Stalker, suggesting he "can't fight to save his life".
'Masher' puts his Commonwealth lightweight title on the line against Stalker in an all-Merseyside affair at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.
Stalker captained Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics after winning bronze in the World Championships and gold in both the European and Commonwealth tournaments in a stellar amateur career.
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Dodd is making the first defence of his professional Commonwealth strap and the fans' favourite from Birkenhead laughed off the challenger's chances.
"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. 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."
The Commonwealth title fight between Dodd and Stalker is part of a packed card in Liverpool, topped by an all-Merseyside battle on show.
Bantamweight rivals Paul Butler and Stuey Hall meet again for the first time since 2014 in a world title eliminator, while Rocky Fielding defends his British super-middleweight title for the first time against Scotsman David Brophy, while controversial Londoner Ohara Davies is back in Liverpool to take on unbeaten local favourite Tom Farrell.
Stalker is joined by fellow local Olympic stars Anthony Fowler and Natasha Jonas.
Watch Paul Butler against Stuart Hall, with Rocky Fielding battling David Brophy, Tom Farrell against Ohara Davies and Sean Dodd taking on Tom Stalker, from 7pm this Saturday on Sky Sports Arena, and from 7.40pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
