The ingredients are there for Jason Booth to shock Steve Molitor. Jim Watt assesses his chances...
Booth will give it his all, but does he have enough?
If Jason Booth needs any inspiration for the challenge that lies ahead, he need only look back at last weekend's memorable night in Glasgow.
Few of us, me included, gave Ricky Burns a chance against Roman Martinez, an established world champion and the best in his division. Or so we thought.
The parallels for Booth's own world-title fight are remarkably similar. Steve Molitor is considered one of the best super-bantamweights out there, he has been to these shores before and proved too good for our guy - in Martinez's case it was Jason's brother Nicky - and in reality, you would have to make him the clear favourite.
And much like Burns, Jason's last performance (against Matthew Marsh) was not that impressive and certainly not what you would hope for as your build-up to a world title fight.
But if we've learned one thing already this season, is it that we do get it wrong! I am sure Jason saw what Ricky did and I am sure he will draw strength from it.
I'm also sure he will put every last ounce into this because he is getting a second chance; at boxing and to put it bluntly, life. We all know the terrible problems he has been through with drink and drugs and I do think he realises he is lucky to still be alive, never mind healthy, and never mind an athlete.
For all those problems, Booth has a second chance and if he were to pull it off it really would be unbelievable.
Fight of his life
He is going to need the fight of his life, though. One thing you can say in his favour is that he is fit, and a proper 12-round fighter. Technically he is very, very good too, a real all-round craftsman who has learned every aspect of the trade.
His defensive skills have always been impressive, he puts his punches together well and he knows his way round the ring. The only downside is he is not really a big puncher. Had he had a real dig on him, I would give him more of a chance because a sharp shot now and then will remind Molitor he can't just do as he pleases.
But neither was Ricky Burns, it's just that he hit Martinez often enough and you would expect Booth to at least be able to do the same.
Also, I think Jason will fare better than Michael Hunter did the last time we saw Molitor on these shores. I still remember Hunter's ringwalk and right away it looked to me as if the whole occasion got to him. He froze and was blown away but you would have to fancy Booth, given what he's been through, to relish this opportunity rather than be overawed.
No fear
His biggest problem will be that he's in against a damned good fighter. We don't quite know what that fractured shin will have done to him, but going on what we know about the Canadian, he is a decent champion. He's only lost once, to Celestino Caballero who is probably the very best in the division, and he is not afraid to fight anyone.
So many champions are molly-coddled these days, but not this lad. He will take on anyone and the fact that he's willing to come over here and put his title on the line tells its own story. I do make him favourite and I do think that you have to expect this to go to form; but after what we saw last Saturday
Fight Night, you can't be certain.
Without wanting to use hindsight, I would have to say that before Burns' win, Booth had the tougher task on his hands. Burns upset the odds and we would all love to see Jason do the same and give us another world champion here in Britain. But as much as I try, I can't see how he can get through Molitor if the Canadian is as good as we know he can be.
Booth will give it his all and no-one can deny him his big chance, but I think it might end in heartbreak. But just like last week, I would be more than happy to be proved wrong.
