Mark Hobson reckons he is an easier opponent for Enzo Maccarinelli than Johnny Nelson.

But don't be kidded into thinking that Hobson is only making up the numbers at a packed MEN Arena in Manchester tomorrow night.

The pair go head-to-head for Maccarinelli's WBU title belt after Hobson seized the chance to step in for the injured Nelson.

Huddersfield's British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion will relish his shot at the big time in a fight being shown live on terrestrial television.

Though he admits Welshman Maccarinelli will be much

happier seeing him rather than the battle-hardened Nelson in the opposite corner.

"I've no doubts he believes

he can beat me and probably rightly so," he said.

"I'm probably an easier fight for him than Nelson because

of the styles. You know what you'll get with me whereas Johnny is so awkward.

"With me and Maccarinelli, it's simple. He comes to fight, I come to fight; he can punch hard, I can punch hard; he has been down, I have been down.

"And it's guaranteed to make a great fight to watch."

Hobson did not raise a glove in anger during 2005. A planned showdown with David Haye twice fell down through injury and illness.

But his mounting frustration disappeared the moment that promoters Sports Network came on the phone.

"It's a fantastic opportunity that Frank Warren has given me and I still can't believe it," added Hobson. "Two weeks ago I was supposed to be fighting 'Buster' Keeton in a six-round warm-up and now this.

"I haven't fought for 15 months and in an ideal world there would have been a few tune-up fights first. But this isn't an ideal world and you have to make the most of these opportunities when they come along."

The winner has been promised the Nelson fight or a shot at the vacant WBO belt - they refused to put that on the line tomorrow because of Hobson's inactivity.

If Hobson loses, he will still have his dual titles to fall back on. But he is hungry to break the big-money barrier.

"I'm in the right place at the right time for once in my life and I'll give it everything I've got. It might all back-fire but there won't be any excuses from me.

"Maccarinelli is a really strong, powerful puncher who takes people out but he has never fought anyone as good as me. He has been well promoted and well looked-after, I look at his record and I've fought better people than that.

"If I lose a boxing match it is not the end of the world. But at this stage of my career I really do need to win this to step up again."

Tomorrow's fight is live on ITV 1 at 11.10pm.

Dale Robinson faces Wolverhampton journeyman Delroy Spencer over six rounds on the undercard.

The 25-year-old is ready to relaunch his career at flyweight - with a British title fight against Commonwealth champion Lee Haskins waiting in the wings.

Huddersfield's Robinson is back to his natural weight after narrowly failing in a bid for the domestic bantam belt against Martin Power last year.

The six-rounder against Spencer will be his first appearance since an unconvincing draw with Kenyan Moses Kinyua in Hartlepool five months ago.