Jon-Lewis Dickinson has had a rocky road to the summit of the British cruiserweight scene.

After winning Prizefighter in April 2010, a British title shot appeared imminent for the County Durham fighter but, instead, adversity lay just around the corner.

Just three months after his Prizefighter success Dickinson suffered his first reverse after sustaining a huge eye swelling againstTyrone Wright, before, in his next bout, catastrophe struck.

Against Richard Turba (September 2010), Jon-Lewis suffered a jaw break so horrendous it seemed certain his promising career would be over.

Fortunately, after surgery, a recuperative break, and a battle to get his licence back, Dickinson resumed his career and - after wins over Dave Dolan, Chris Burton and Matty Askin - now gets the chance to claim domestic top honours when he takes on Shane McPhilbin for the vacant British belt at Liverpool's Olympia on October 13.

"It's brilliant," said Jon-Lewis of his forthcoming title tilt. "When I won Prizefighter I thought it was just around the corner, and if I'd had more experience I'd have probably got a shot straight away, but unfortunately I hadn't.

"I think everything happens for a reason though, and with my jaw break I've come back and I'm a different person; I'm more determined to achieve and I put in more now. I think you have to go through punishment to really realise what you want. I've taken the positives from it and it's pushed me on even harder in life to achieve what I want."

Dickinson will likely have to go through more punishment is he is to beat tough-guy McPhilbin, who enters the contest feeling aggrieved that he isn't taking on his North East opponent as the defending champion.

In January this year, Shane, 8-3 (5), stopped Leon 'Solid' Williams to win the championship before losing it, in his first defence, against Enzo Maccarinelli in contentious circumstances.

Having put Enzo over, and with the Welshman out on his feet and about to be stopped, the bell to end the first round rang 47 seconds early. Subsequently, with that unfair respite proving adequate for Enzo to recover, McPhilbin ended up losing his crown on a points decision.

Add to the equation that Maccarinelli was also subsequently banned and stripped of the belt after failing a random drug test and you can see that Shane will enter the bout as a man burning with a desire to right an injustice.

Having recently beaten the likes of former British title challenger Dolan, and hard-hitting prospect Askin, Jon-Lewis, 11-2 (3), is on a good run of form as he heads into the McPhilbin scrap, but he knows that the Nottinghamshire fighter is a hard man who will take some beating.

"He's a tough fighter and he's in there for a war. It's going to be a hard fight and that's what I'm preparing for. He's not going to beat me on boxing; he hasn't got the same qualities boxing-wise, and he's not a stand-out where you'd say 'oh, he's good to watch for his technique'. What he has got is a bit of a punch on him and he's a tough bloke. He gets in and roughs you up; he's a spoiler.

"I wouldn't say he was better than who I've beaten recently. Dolan is a tough bloke who will come forward all day, and he's also quite technical. Obviously the Burton fight didn't go that far, but Matty Askin was good prospect with a good knockout percentage. I would say the likes of Dolan and Askin are better boxers than McPhilbin but styles make fights, and he's a different opponent to those two and I've got to be prepared for what he brings."

Part of an undercard that is headlined by David Price defending his British heavyweight title against Audley Harrison; Dickinson and McPhilbin have been given a wonderful platform to fight for the vacant crown, and will go to war in front of thousands.

The contest, between two fighters who haven't had things easy, looks certain to be absorbing, and Jon-Lewis is raring to go.

"When I first saw the date [Price vs. Harrison] I thought 'champion' and hoped I'd get on the show, so when Maloney rang it was just great. It's just what I wanted. Liverpool's a great city for boxing, they're doing really well over there, and to be on with David Price is brilliant.

"I'm one hundred per cent confident. I've had a 12 week camp for this fight and everything's gone spot on; I'm in great shape. I'm not looking past Shane, but I'd love to win it and defend up in the North East; I think the people up there deserve that.

"So, aye, win the belt first and then get a show up there; that'd be brilliant."

BIG FIGHT PREDICTION - WHO WINS, DAVID PRICE OR AUDLEY HARRISON?

Jon-Lewis Dickinson: "I think David Price will beat him within four. I think he'll take him out. The way Price is improving all the time and the way he punches; he's a big, strong man and I think he'll have too much for Audley on the night."

To see David Price defending his British heavyweight title against Audley Harrison at Liverpool's Echo Arena on October 13, including an undercard featuring Shane McPhilbin versus Jon-Lewis Dickinson for the British cruiserweight belt, plus other domestic title bouts – check out the ticket information.