Three-times world title challenger Henry Wharton will give it one last shot to win the ultimate crown in what he claims is "the toughest fight of my career" against Yorkshire rival Crawford Ashley next month.
York's Henry Wharton, left, comes face to face with the European, British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Crawford Ashley as the build-up to next month's Tyke night fight night begins
The York fighter faces a do or die showdown with the Leeds man at Halifax's North Bridge Leisure Centre when the European, British and Commonwealth light heavyweights belts will be on the line.
The winner is expected go on to challenge for the world title while the loser is likely to call it quits.
But Wharton is refusing to get carried away with talk of another world bid after his last three attempts, at super middleweight, all failed.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the February 6 fight night, he said: "It gives me great incentive, as does the fact we're fighting for three titles, but I've talked about world titles before and come unstuck at the last hurdle.
"Anything can come unstuck, nothing can be taken for granted. He's got an advantage over me in most departments but it's up to me to pull it off."
Victory would give Wharton a place in boxing history as the first man to hold three titles at two different weights following his success at super middle.
But defeat would at this crucial stage would be too painful and both men admitted it would probably prompt them to hang up their gloves, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: "Whoever loses this it's the end of their careers. Both these men have fought for world titles, they don't want to be stepping stones for other young lads coming through"
Wharton and Ashley both echoed those views. Wharton said: "We have come to a cross-roads in both our careers. I'm 31, Crawford's 34. There are not many people in this game at 34 or 35 who are doing much.
"It's an awkward situation. If this was a world title the loser could go back and have another go at the domestic level. But as our fight is at domestic level it would be difficult to come back from a defeat. I wouldn't want to go to being just an opponent fighter for other guys.
"If I do lose I will have to seriously consider my future but it would depend on the manner of the defeat."
Ashley agreed: "I have everything to lose and everything to gain. If I lose this then that's it, finished."
Wharton has had just two fights at the new heavier weight, defeating Ukrainian Konstantin Okhrey at York's Barbican Centre on his British debut in September, but believes the step up has made him a much stronger fighter.
"It has given me a new lease of life. At super middleweight I was struggling to make the weight and maintain my energy for a full fight. Now I've got more spring in my step and can maintain the staying power."
Wharton admitted he was "working on a few things" in the gym to counter Ashley's extra height and reach.
He also claimed that, for once, he is not the one under pressure which could be an advantage. "I'm not going to put pressure on myself. In a way there's no pressure on me, it's not like when I was having to defend my titles and I had the added pressure of all my supporters there expecting me to win well but now it's up to him.
"Now he's the champion and people will probably be looking at the triple champion as the winner.
"He's the champion and he's really pumped up. He's been boxing at a high level and doing very well. It's entirely on me whether I do it or not."
There may be the unofficial title of the county's number one up for grabs - Maloney joked: "The loser will have to move out of Yorkshire" - but both men refused to be drawn on talk of rivalry.
Ashley said: "This is just a fight as far as I'm concerned. It means a lot to me just like any other fight."
And Wharton has his sights set on the bigger picture: "It is a bit of an added incentive but this is for the major honours - the fight doesn't need anything else.
"The winner goes on to fight for the world title, the loser can think about retirement."
Maloney is expecting a sell-out crowd at the 2,000 seater Halifax venue, chosen because it was the only available venue in West Yorkshire with a big enough capacity.
Also on the bill, to be televised by Sky television, is a British Super Bantamweight title fight between Bryan Carr and Patrick Mullins and a full local undercard to be announced later.
Tickets go on sale on Friday.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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