Dingwall boxer Ben Bartlett looks to double up on professional titles with Aberdeen date set for super welterweight championship bout
Dingwall professional boxer Ben Bartlett has the chance to become a double Scottish champion later this year.
The 24-year-old won his first belt at the end of last year, defeating Alfie Poole to win the vacant Scottish welterweight title.
Now, he has the chance to become a double champion when he takes on Rico Marinovic at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom on November 30 for the vacant super welterweight championship.
Glasgow-based Marinovic is currently undefeated through three bouts, but is due to step into the ring again next month before coming up to the Granite City with the title on the line.
Bartlett, who has won all eight of his professional bouts to date, says the prospect of two unbeaten fighters going toe-to-toe with a championship on the line should be exciting for everyone involved.
“It was kind of out of the blue if I’m being honest, but it’s a chance I’m definitely not going to turn down,” he said.
“I have a lot of hard work to do between now and then, but I’m confident I can take the belt home to Dingwall.
“This will be my first fight at super welterweight. I feel very strong at welterweight, which is my more natural weight, so moving up comes with a bit of extra strength training but I’m confident that I will do well at this weight as well.
“I know Marinovic has got another fight in October, so he will potentially be 4-0 coming into our fight. That would make it two fighters who are undefeated, so it will be a great fight for the fans.
“I’ve obviously had four more fights than him, but that means nothing. I know he will be coming for a fight, and I definitely will be too, so it’s going to be a great night and I’m looking forward to it.”
The fight will be Bartlett’s first time stepping into the ring since his victory over Poole due to a hand injury he picked up ahead of that bout.
He has since taken time to make sure it recovers fully, which has been frustrating – but also potentially opened up the door to moving up a weight class to take this next opportunity.
“The recovery was hard, because the NHS is just so busy,” Bartlett, who trains out of Highland Boxing Academy, admitted.
“It was hard to fit me in and see what was actually wrong, so I actually ended up going private through in Aberdeen and getting it fixed through there.
“It is fully healed, and I’ve been back training for a few weeks, so why not take the chance to have another shot at being a Scottish champion, at another weight?
“I think not being able to train is where the extra bit of weight has come on, because I’ve been doing a lot of weight training instead of boxing.
“I’m actually feeling very strong for being super welterweight, so hopefully the time off will work in my favour.
“Nobody from up here has been a champion at more than one weight, and I think there is only one person from Glasgow.
“It’s a big motivator. It’s got me buzzing again just knowing that I’ve got a fight coming up, so I’m looking forward to getting my head down for the next 10 weeks and grafting to get ready for fight night.”
