By Terence Dooley

Droylsden’s Prince Arron makes the maiden defense of his British 154lb belt against Lancashire rival Brian Rose at Wigan’s Robin Park Centre on December 3rd.  The 6’ 3’’ boxer won the belt with a twelfth round TKO of Sam Webb in May after putting in a career best performance.

Arron is riding the crest of a 12-fight winning streak.  His last reverse came at the fists of John Duddy; the youngster was pitched in with former British boss Anthony Small after only a handful of fights and lost to undefeated southpaw prospect Danny Reynolds when the two were novices.

The Prince, however, believes that these early setbacks set him on the path to glory, allowing him to silently creep up the rankings before a 2010 Prizefighter: The Light-Middleweights tournament win and the scrap with Webb put his name up there with the domestic division’s best boxers.

“I always knew my potential,” said Arron as he looked back over the Webb win.  “My trainer [Bob Shannon] obviously saw it and it has paid off.  I’m not a kid anymore – I’m physically and mentally stronger.”

Webb was floored in the fifth stanza, he looked a done deal but gritted his teeth in a bid to hold onto his belt before succumbing late.  Arron feels that his patience was the key on the night; it allowed him to pile up points without giving the titlist a chance to fight his way into the contest.

“I kept my composure well.  I knew it was twelve rounder, that I had the power.  I think the ref could have stopped it early but didn’t – maybe because Sam was the champion – so I used the rounds well.  His legs were gone so it was just a matter of time,” his recollection.

Shannon believes Webb underestimated his charge, arguing that Arron’s 21-3-1 (4) record is deceiving as the defeats came early in his paid career.  The trainer has had high hopes ever since the 23-year-old walked into his gym in 2008.

Saying, “Sam thought he could walk through him but this is one guy you don’t walk through as he’s very strong and powerful.  I think this lad is very special.  People cannot believe how fast he is.”

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