By Terence Dooley

Jason Booth’s remarkable journey – from alcohol addiction to domestic and Commonwealth champion – is set to climax with an IBF title tilt against Canada’s Steve Molitor in Sunderland on the 23rd of July.  Booth has battled out-of-the-ring demons in order to line himself up for this crack; the 32-year-old believes that he wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for boxing.

“The world title fight is such a bonus for me and now I want to win it so much.  I am so lucky to have the things I do in life now – if I hadn't had boxing, I'd be dead; the drink would've beaten me,” admitted the current British and Commonwealth boss when talking to the Sunderland Echo.

Molitor lost his way somewhat after a fourth-round stoppage defeat to Celestino Caballero in 2008 yet the Canadian-based stylist is a formidable proposition for Booth, who lost on points to Ian Napa as recently as 2007, albeit down at 118lb.  With four wins in his last four fights, one by stoppage, ‘The Canadian Kid’, 32-1 (12), is sure to give ‘2 Smooth’, 35-5 (15), plenty to think about during the course of this contest.

Frank Maloney, who promotes Booth, believes that the fight, which is due to take place at the Rainton Meadows Arena, will help cement Sunderland’s re-emergence as a boxing city.

“Since I started promoting Tony Jeffries, boxing fans in Sunderland have responded with passionate support and Sky TV love that because it adds to the spectacle.  Tony will have his first eight-round fight on the same bill and I'm hoping to add a British title fight to the card as well,” revealed Maloney.

Molitor is no stranger to these shores; indeed, the 30-year-old defeated Hartlepool’s Michael Hunter in five to kick-start his first title reign, only for WBA boss Caballero to violently halt Molitor’s world title run.  Steve bounced back, winning the vacant belt in his last fight, a points win over Takalani Ndlovu, and he is the clear favourite going into this one; Maloney, though, has done his man a huge favour by bring the contest to the UK.

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