STAR Huddersfield boxer Mark Hobson heads into Saturday’s British cruiserweight title clash against John Keaton with the psychological advantage of having already chalked up an inside-the-distance win over the holder.

But Hobson, who when he was British champion, beat ‘Buster’ in four rounds in Barnsley in June of last year, will also know that the Sheffield fighter will not give up his belt without a major fight.

The 35-year-old, who put Hobson on the canvas with a powerful hook in round two, is a product of the steel city’s famed Ingle gym.

But he has always been in the shadow of the likes of Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Junior Witter.

Keaton showed promise on a number of occasions that he was about to make a breakthrough into the big time.

But British title shot losses against Terry Dunstan, in Bethnal Green in 1996, Bruce Scott, in Sheffield in 2000, then Hobson seemed to have scuppered any chances of him securing the national crown.

However the Lindley man’s decision to drop the British belt in order to challenge WBO king Enzo Maccarinelli handed Keaton a fourth chance, against Lee Swaby 12 months ago.

Hobson, 31, has two wins over Swaby, but anyone who saw the bouts will testify to the skill – and guts – of the Lincoln fighter.

So it was no mean feat for Keaton to clinch a seven-round success in a brutal clash at the Don Valley Stadium.

Hobson will no doubt have noted how Keaton, who has a hammer of a right hand, made Swaby pay any time he let him in close in a bout which swung after the former kick-boxer took a tumble in round three.

Keaton stepped things up and drew blood in the sixth before referee Micky Vann decided he’d seen enough one round later.

Keaton has fought just once since then, heading to Canada for an unsuccessful attempt at collecting the Commonwealth title, with home man Troy Ross sealing a second-round victory.

The British champion admitted he had failed to follow the fightplan, getting over-excited and dropping his guard as he sought a big punch to escape the corner Ross had backed him into.

Keaton has a high regard for Hobson, saying: “He’s a nice guy, but a tough one. He can box and he’s got a good chin.”

But he added: “I do not fear anyone in the British rankings, all of them are beatable. I have been in this game for too long to worry about anyone.

“I have matured a lot. I know what it takes to get to the top, and now I’m here, I want to stay for as long as I can.”

Saturday’s fight, which is being screened by Setanta Sports, is support to the attractive IBF light-heavyweight title showdown between Sheffield’s Clinton Woods and Mexican challenger Julio Cesar Gonzalez.

Also on the bill is a British heavyweight title eliminator between Basildon’s John McDermott and Welshman Scott Gammer.