UNBEATEN middleweight Steve Bendall has admitted it would be a dream come true if he were to lift the vacant British title tonight (Sept 17).

The Poole-based southpaw goes into the ring against Scott Dann, from St Judes, in the Cornishman's home city of Plymouth just across the Devon border over 12 rounds.

Bendall is hoping to stretch his impressive professional run to 22 straight victories and open the way for greater things in the future.

But it won't be easy in a fight that will see the victor take over the reign of former champion Howard Eastman, who voluntarily relinquished the title earlier this year.

Dann, like Bendall a southpaw, is a big hitter with a record of won 19 - including 13 knockouts - lost two in the professional ring.

He has only lost to Battersea Bomber Eastman, last year, and Jon Penn, in 2001.

To add spice to the contest, Bendall - who has recorded 10 knockouts - wanted the fight to take place on neutral territory in London, not in Dann's own backyard.

But Dann's manager, Chris Sanigar, won the right to host the title fight in Plymouth.

Bendall used to be in Sanigar's camp, but they split several years ago and aren't exactly the best of pals now.

After weighing in at the maximum permissible 11 stone 6 pounds at the Plymouth Pavilions yesterday, Bendall, now managed by Tommy Gilmore, said: "It would mean everything to me to lift the British title.

"Ever since I was a boy I have dreamt of winning a British title. It would be a big step for me and would put me on to another level.

"It is very important for me to win it. I just want to get it on.

"To be bang on the weight, I couldn't have done any better."

Bendall, who has spent the past six weeks at training camp, including five of those in South Africa, added: "It went even better than expected in Johannesburg. I have never felt so good.

"Because the training went so well I feel very relaxed and every angle has been covered.

"The hard work has been done. It is just a matter of going into the ring and getting the job done. We are confident we have prepared 100 per cent for this."

Dann, who used to train at Plymouth while Bendall was going through his paces in Bristol when they were both in Sanigar's camp, is a well-known big hitter who weighed in at 11 stone 5 pounds.

He also goes into the fight in front of a big home crowd who will expect him to lift the title.

Bendall said: "I hope that will play into my hands because he will probably feel he has to come forward.

"I've been doing 22 rounds a day in the gym in South Africa so I am ready for this. I couldn't have prepared any better."

Bendall, the British number two, hasn't been in the ring for a long time.

It was as long ago as last November that he fought poorly but still came through to beat the Albanian Kreshnick Qato on points over eight rounds at Bethnal Green.

He had also, by his own admission, struggled to defeat the Belgian Mike Algoet at Brentford over 12 rounds six months before that when he won on a split decision.

Dann, the British number three, has won three fights in the same period, overcoming Danny Thornton to lift the English title in May, Ojay Abrahams and Hussain Osman.