NAMBUCCA Heads master blaster Mitchel Stapleton will look to take another sure step in his burgeoning professional boxing career on Saturday night when he takes on a fellow rising talent at the Central Coast.
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With a ring name of Dynamite Kid, the 20-year-old Mitchel was impressive in his debut outing as a pro last September, knocking out his opponent.
He'll also be looking to put his next opponent, Jake 'Dreamtime' Doherty, to nigh nighs in their welterweight (66.67kg) four round bout at the Doyalson Wyee RSL Club.
But he knows the ask and the opposition will be tougher.
Doherty, 18, from Maitland, has had just the two outings as a pro, for as many wins, with one by knockout.
"He's going to be fit and strong. It's a 50-50 fight," Mitchel told the Guardian.
"But I've had a really good preparation and done a lot of rounds, I've just got to get the weight right."
Mitchel is 'over' ahead of Friday's weigh-in, but confident he'll meet the mark.
"It's normal this far out, it's just fluids," he said.
After a storied and decorated amateur career, the former Nambucca Heads High School product is pumped for Saturday's showdown.
"It's fight week, I'm ready to go," he said.
Mitchel's trainer, and father, Ian 'Sparra' Stapleton, said he could not fault the preparation.
"We've done everything right. He's been up to Brisbane and Grafton sparring and this morning (Monday) he went for a 14-kilometre run and then 12 rounds on the pads and bags," Sparra said.
Mindful of being measured in the countdown, Mitchel said "that was my last big run - slow paced and more of a recovery run".
Sparra said they didn't know a lot about Doherty: "We've seen a little of his footage and he has a good work rate".
Mitchel, a five-time national title holder as an amateur, said he was looking no further than this weekend's bout.
"You can't afford to. I've trained very hard so I've given myself every chance," he said.
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