Darlington manager Martin Gray recognises the characteristics that have given Stuart Hall an opportunity to become a two-time world champion, and says the boxer’s dedication and work-rate make him a role model for his players.

Gray is full of admiration for the fighter, who this evening bids to regain the IBF bantamweight belt when he takes on Randy Cabellero in Monte Carlo in a bout screened live on Channel Five.

It will be Hall’s fourth world title fight inside ten months and Gray was one of his guests at ringside when the Darlington-born pugilist retained his belt against Martin Ward at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena seven months ago.

While Hall has reached the pinnacle of his sport, Gray played in the top-flight for Sunderland before spells with Oxford United and Darlington and readily admits his career as a midfielder was based on the same committed approach that has paid dividends for the boxer.

“What Stuart’s achieved is inspirational,” said Gray. "He’s come through some tough times, I’m led to believe, and shown what can be done with focus and desire to be the best in his sport and he became a world champion.

“The same applies to any sport whether it’s boxing or football or anything else. That’s what I did as a player, it’s about being dedicated and focused.

“Stuart’s put a lot of hard work in and reached the top, that’s exactly what any sportsmen should be trying to do.

“He’s achieved a lot, turned his life around and now he’s in a second world title fight. I’ve spoken to him on the phone this week to wish him all the best and I really hope he wins, he deserves to.”

Hall is a coach on a new boxing education programme which is ran by Gray at Darlington College, and he will enter the ring this evening in a t-shirt emblazoned with the Martin Gray Academy logo.

Gray added: “I invited Stuart to our next game after he won the world title last time. I hope he wins the belt back on Saturday night so that he can parade the belt again before a match.”

Quakers’ boss hopes to be watching the bout on television having taken three points this afternoon at Heritage Park against Burscough, when top-of-the-table Darlington will almost be at full-strength.

Jordan Robinson is the only absentee as he recovers from an operation on a fractured cheekbone, while Gary Brown, Graeme Armstrong and David Dowson all return to action.

Brown has overcome the illness that caused him to miss last Saturday’s trip to Radcliffe Borough in the FA Trophy, Armstrong is available for selection after suffering from concussion last time out at Heritage Park 11 days ago and Dowson is back in the squad after overcoming a hamstring strain that has seen him miss ten league fixtures plus two cup matches.

Darlington are in form having won their last seven matches, excluding Tuesday’s Durham Challenge Cup tie at Spennymoor Town, when they largely fielded a teenage team and Gray did not attend as he was watching a game elsewhere.

“I let Mark Fanning and Deano Browne pick the team because it was the under-18s playing,” said Gray. “It’s their team so they were in charge.”

In August Quakers could only draw 2-2 at Burscough, who are 17th, but Darlington’s form has improved markedly and in their last seven matches have conceded only twice.

“As a team we’re defending well, it’s not just the defence,” added Gray. “We defend the ball from the front, that’s what we always say, and if you can do that up the pitch it can make life easier at the back.

“The effort from the front lads and the midfielders has taken a bit of pressure off the midfielders.

“Peter Jameson isn’t having many saves to make and I hope it continues. It’s about stopping the source at the other end of the pitch.”