Joe Hayden set for Dalton Smith's Sheffield undercard
An October date is being pencilled in for Dalton Smith’s Sheffield comeback
Dalton Smith's Sheffield Arena homecoming date has yet to be announced and his undercard is still being assembled.
But boxer and manager Dave Allen - courtesy of his close relationship with the promoters Matchroom - expects his trainee Joe Hayden to be on the bill, which could be October 17 or 24.
If the Arena date is confirmed, it will bring an exciting new chapter in the life and career of Hayden, who has an eye-catching 23 wins with no losses.
Such a sterling record would normally have guaranteed a boxer a title shot on a big TV show, by now.
But if the Wadworth, Doncaster welterweight gets on Smith's bill, it will be his first brush with stardom.
So why has it taken so long to get there for the 26-year-old, who has been a part-time health care assistant at a high-security psychiatric hospital for six years?
"I only had four amateur fights and since then I have been learning on the job as a pro," said the southpaw.
"It may seem a slow start with the level I have been at, but I lacked experience so I had to have a lot of fights - sometimes two or three a month, all over the country.
"I was learning on the job against journeymen.
"It was a long, slow journey but I believe it was the right thing to do.
"Yes, I am competitive and I wanted to move quickly but Dave has kept me on the straight and narrow" he said.
"He told me to stay patient and to trust and believe in the process.
"That is what I did, I think it will pay off, and I am at the stage now where I am ready for the big fights. I think I will be a household name in boxing in the UK."
Hayden first has a tick-over bout scheduled against Sheffield's Owen Durnan at Doncaster Dome on July 25.
"Then I am on Dalton's undercard. That is the big one," he said.
"I sparred with Dalton five years ago before my first amateur fight.
"I know him quite well, I really like him, I think we have a lot of respect for each other.
"I was buzzing for him when Dalton won the WBC world title."
Now the pair seem destined to share the same stage on the same night.
"Dave always said when I get on telly, I need to stay on telly...so I need to be ready for the chance" Hayden said, referring to DAZN streaming of the Eddie Hearn show.
He thinks his part in the event will be a ten-rounder, possibly an eliminator.
"I want to be pushing up the ranks and I'd like to compete for the English title (held by Joel Kodua) and then challenge for a British title (Constantin Ursu") that is my main goal."
October will bring him his first televised fight.
"I have had 'prelim' fights on YouTube but never on DAZN. I don't know who I will be fighting, they might be looking at other local lads first, so tickets are easier to sell. I am not picky, I will fight anyone."