For whatever reason, activity and Peter Dobson simply don’t go hand in hand. Although the New Yorker is entering his 10th year as a professional, he’s suffered long strings of inactivity. Still, all along, Dobson has been begging and pleading with the top dogs in the welterweight division to give him a chance.

After being mostly ignored, Dobson (16-0, 9 KOs) will finally get what he was asking for. On February 3rd, at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, British star Conor Benn, threw Dobson a lifeline of sorts. With nowhere else to go and desperate for a chance on the big stage, Dobson accepted.

Usually, the 33-year-old is brazen with his words and dismissive of his upcoming opponents. This time around, he took an entirely different approach.

“I feel like Conor Benn is green but he has that hunger to prove himself,” Dobson told Tru School Sports. “He has a chip on his shoulders. He's a tough guy, he got determination.”

The last two years have been a nightmare for Benn. He saw a career-high payday and monumental fight slip through his fingers once he tested positive for a banned substance ahead of his showdown with Chris Eubank Jr. He’s done his best to clear his name but up until this point, has been unsuccessful with the British Boxing Board of Control and IUK Anti-Doping.

Recently, however, he was able to put some of his legal issues behind him and jump back into the ring. Just a few short months ago, he picked up a much-needed win over Rodolfo Orozco. By and large, Benn is viewed as one of the better fighters in the welterweight division. All of that is good and well but according to Dobson, Benn will realize that he’s one of the elites come fight night.

“I feel like I’m on a whole other level. I’m one of the best fighters in the world. He can’t f--- with me.”