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Robert Caswell overcame his toughest challenge yet and his reward is a title shot.
Caswell needed to beat Jayro Fernando Duran at York Hall on Saturday to ensure he would meet Michael Webber-Kane in the Southern Area super featherweight title fight on October 14.
Both men were in action at the Bethnal Green venue, but it was Caswell who took the tough option, challenging himself against a Honduran who went into their clash with a 50-50 record - including 14 KO wins.
Caswell (8-0) not only had Duran to deal with, but also Webber-Kane’s noisy following.
The Chatham boxer admitted it was a tough night, but aside from a few bruises came away unscathed for a win on points.
“A couple of times I got involved a little bit but I thought, ‘no, stick to the boxing’. I could feel his power. I just had to get through it.
“While he was swinging he was falling over and so there was a risk of heads clashing and I didn’t want to get cut.
“It wouldn’t have been healed in time for next month or maybe even this year, but I won every round and so I was happy.
“A few people said to me ‘why would you take that fight? - it’s dangerous’. If I lost, the [title] fight wouldn’t be happening but I needed it. He boxed someone not great, to be honest. What will he learn from it?”
Norfolk’s Webber-Kane eased to a four-round points win over Simas Volosinas, a 32-year-old Lithuanian journeyman with 115 defeats and seven wins. Caswell’s title opponent is now 10-0.
Webber-Kane’s noisy following made Caswell know they were there. The Medway boxer was first in the ring of the two.
Caswell said: “He had a crowd with him, including a drum, and as I was on before him. I thought it was a bit disrespectful as they were giving it to me as I was boxing this geezer, but I was thinking, ‘you need me to win or your [title] fight isn’t happening!’. But I don’t think they got that bit!
“They were goading me, it wound me up at the time, I was fuming, but I calmed down and took it with a pinch of salt.”
It got a bit lively in the bar afterwards but Caswell said: “We will both have a good crowd there next month, it should be a good night.
“I spoke to him afterwards and said ‘may the best man win’ and we shook hands. There’s no bad blood.”
Caswell should have a big following for his title fight and was back on it this week.
“Next time I should be able to outweigh the noise!” he said.
The October 14 showdown could be a full-house at York Hall, with three area titles and an English fight on the line.