Dingwall boxer Ben Bartlett feeling better than ever ahead of bid to become double Scottish champion in front of home Highland crowd in Inverness
Ben Bartlett says he is in the best shape of his life – both physically and mentally – ahead of his attempt to become a two-weight Scottish champion this weekend.
The “Bad Boy” will step into the ring at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness against Rico Marinovic with the Scottish Super Welterweight Championship on the line.
Dingwall native Bartlett already has the welterweight equivalent to his name, big-fight experience that could prove crucial in the Highland capital.
It is a bout that is a long time in the making. Originally scheduled for last November, Marinovic was forced to pull out through injury, with the bout instead rescheduled for this Friday night.
That extra time waiting, though, has allowed Bartlett to be in the best possible shape having gone through another training camp since the original date for the fight.
“I’m feeling great – probably the best I’ve ever felt before a fight, both physically and mentally,” he said.
“It has been a long, hard slog of a camp, but I’m glad we’re at the end now and I’m looking forward to putting on a performance on Friday night.
“I’ve done a lot of travelling in this camp. I’ve been down south a lot to spar, which in my opinion brought me on levels compared to my previous fight. I did feel a bit rusty in November, but now I’m all systems go for Friday night.
“It would be a dream come true to win. I never had much of an amateur background, I only had 10 fights, so to potentially get 10 wins as a professional and have won two different Scottish titles at two different weights would be an amazing achievement.
“I turned professional when I was 18 years old, and it’s been a hard journey, but I feel like I have come on leaps and bounds since then because I have put in the hard work. That’s going to show.
“I’m going to do it, 100 per cent. I’m fully confident in my ability, so I’m looking forward to putting on a career-best performance.”
Bartlett will be backed by a sold-out home crowd, who will be desperate to see their Highland hero have his hand raised.
While that would add pressure for some, though, the 25-year-old is confident that the atmosphere will only add to his determination to get the job done.
“I’m getting phone call after phone call, message after message, so the place will be absolutely bouncing,” Bartlett explained.
“It’s going to be one of the best, if not the best, boxing show that has ever been produced in the Highlands.
“It’s totally next level. This has been sold out for months, and I can’t say how much I appreciate all the people who have bought tickets.
“It helps massively in the ring. As the fight progresses and I’m landing clean shots, the place is going to erupt which is going to spur me on even more.
“Make no mistake about it, I’ve been training to get a finish, so that’s what I’ll be looking for at the weekend to take the title home.
“Obviously there are some nerves there, but at the end of the day this is what I’ve been training for. Rico will have a lot of nerves too, because it’s his first title fight, so I’ve got to use that to my advantage.
“I’m super confident in my ability, and I’m ready to put on a show in front of my home crowd on Friday to take the belt home.”
Of course, the potential spanner in the works of Bartlett’s plans is his opponent.
At 21 years old, Marinovic has a 4-0 professional record, with the “Punjabi Prince” winning all of his bouts by decision.
The experience advantage, then, will go to Bartlett, who will be willing to use each and every single second of that extra time in the ring to ensure he claims the victory.
“I just think I’m levels above him, and he’s going to know that on the night,” Bartlett added.
“I’m expecting him to come at me with everything he’s got early. It’s really sink or swim for him, and he’s coming into my back garden with my home crowd there.
“I’m going to use that to my advantage, and if he’s going to come in firing straight away then I’ll bring it to him.
“I know he’s never been tested in deep waters before, and I have. I know what I can do in that situation, so I’m just looking forward to lacing my gloves up and getting going.”