If you'd told Jason Booth five years ago that, in 2010, he'd be fighting for a recognised version of a world title, he'd have looked at you, laughed and continued on with a life that was spiralling dangerously out of control.The Nottingham super-bantamweight was, circa 2005, at his lowest ebb - begging for money in the East Midlands to feed his alcoholic binges.
But trainer Tony Harris saw him, got him back on the straight and narrow and here we are on the eve of the reformed alcoholic's biggest night - and there is a feeling he may be capable of pulling off a huge upset.
In order to live out that dream, however, he's going to have to rip the IBF 8st 10lbs world title from the cultured fists of Canada's Steve Molitor, at the Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, tomorrow (Saturday, September 11).
That's no easy task.
Molitor (pictured), now a two-time IBF super-bantam boss, has a fine repertoire of punches, a solid chin and a professional ledger that reads only one defeat (in a WBA/IBF unification fight with tall, long-limbed banger Celestino Caballero, four rounds, 2008) in 33.
For all Booth's grit, heart, determination and solid skills, he's only really been tested on domestic and European levels.
And if you take the former two-time British and Commonwealth champion's record on face value, 35 wins in 40 (15 inside), then he has always fallen short on the step up to European class as well, having lost in three tilts at the European flyweight title.
However, all three were controversial decisions in the back yards, France (twice) and Spain, of the men he was fighting.
And since his return from a two-year hiatus in 2006 Booth has won ten (solitary stain being against flash and slippery Ian Napa, who Booth had previously outscored) of eleven, as well as picking up the Commonwealth title at bantamweight, and British and Commonwealth titles at the weight above.
To southpaw Molitor, who many feel may be on the slide after a ten-year career that has seen plenty of hard fights.
Although he's boxed mainly in North America, he's no stranger to these shores, having outpointed Jason's younger brother, ex-Lonsdale belt-holder Nicky, for the Commonwealth belt in 2002 - and then savagely dismantled a common foe, Michael Hunter, for the vacant International Boxing Federation strap in Hartlepool in 2006 (five rounds).
Five successful defences, all against top-level opponents, followed before being battered to defeat by Caballero. He rebounded with three victories of varying quality and took the vacant belt in March with a unanimous, albeit close-ish, verdict over old foe Takalani Ndlovu, who he'd stopped in a title defence three years earlier.
Is that an indication that the 30-year-old isn't the formidable box-fighter he once was?
Booth, who put in, for me, a career-best showing against Hunter late last year, looked easy-to-hit and sluggish in a eleven-round cut victory over slick but non-punching Matthew Marsh in his last fight.
A performance like that against the clean-living champion and it's likely to be curtains.
Many have used Ricky Burns' WBO world title-winning effort against betting favourite Roman Martinez last weekend as a blueprint and inspiration for the battle-scared if talented 32-year-old ex-IBO super-flweight king to follow ahead of his career-hardest 12-rounder tomorrow.
But hard-hitting Martinez appeared to be a one-dimensional puncher, despite a solid amateur pedigree, who was telegraphing his punches throughout the 36-minute bout in Scotland.
Molitor, based on previous visits to these shores, has a lot more to him than that (can box on the outside before stepping in and fighting on the inside, and hits to the body well; has variation and decent hand speed) and i feel the fairy tale that Booth has been writing for himself will finally come to an end.
Look for the champion to make a successful maiden defence of his belt on points, possibly a late stoppage, having had to fend off a spirited and gallant early charge by the affable, gap-toothed Midlander.
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