Darlington boxer Stuart Hall will attempt to reclaim the IBF World Bantamweight title when he fights unbeaten American Randy Caballero in Monte Carlo next month. In the first of his exclusive diaries for The Northern Echo, he details how his preparations have been going

I’VE changed pretty much everything in the build-up to this fight, and I couldn’t be happier with where I’m at a month or so before heading to Monaco.

I’ve changed trainers and am now based with Paddy Lynch and Max McCracken. I’d been with Mick Marsden for a long time, and although I don’t have a bad word to say about him, it was just time for a change.

I’m living with a mate in Coventry and training in Birmingham, and it’s been a real eye-opener in terms of how to get in the best possible shape for a fight. I feel like when I won the world title against Vusi Malinga, I was probably only operating at about 60 per cent of my capability.

The training has been brutal, but I feel so much better for it. I’m in the gym for eight o’clock now and am doing two or three hard sessions every day.

The Northern Echo: Stuart Hall defeats South Africa's Vusi Malinga at the First Direct Arena in Leeds to become a world champion fighter.

I’m sparring for six rounds or so, and in the past, that might have been it for the day. Now, Paddy is getting me straight on the pads, then the bags, and then I’ll do a 20-minute skip. I never did anything like that in the past.

After the first few days, I thought, ‘What have I let myself in for here?’ It was really tough, but it’s exactly what I needed. I definitely feel in much better condition than for any of my previous world-title fights.

The Northern Echo: Stuart Hall defeats South Africa's Vusi Malinga at the First Direct Arena in Leeds to become a world champion fighter.

The whole thing is just a lot more professional, and I feel as though I’m being looked after properly. Caballero will see the effects of that when he steps in the ring next month.

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THE quality of the sparring has been one of the biggest differences. I’ve been sparring with the Yafai brothers – Khalid and Gamal – and the work has been to a really high standard.

Both the Yafai lads have been part of the GB Boxing set-up, and you see them on Sky Sports now, making their way. They’re both great prospects and they’re giving me the work I need.

Khalid has done most of his fighting at bantamweight, so it’s the ideal preparation for the type of things I’m going to face with Caballero.

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I’VE trained in Leeds for my previous fights, so I’ve been able to live at home. This is different, and I’m having to miss out on a lot of things to stick to my training schedule.

It was my daughter Rio’s second birthday yesterday, but I wasn’t able to be there. We had a family day at Chester Zoo at the weekend so that was nice, but it still hurt to have to watch Rio opening her presents on Face Time on my phone.

I missed my wedding anniversary too, and last weekend my other girl, Thea, was in tears when I had to leave her and drive back down south. Now, whenever I think of Caballero, I think, ‘You’re the guy who made my little girl cry’. That just gives me even more motivation to knock him to the floor.

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FIGHTING abroad is a completely new experience for me, but I’m delighted that some of my biggest fans from Darlo have got themselves booked up to come out to Monaco.

I think there’ll be between 40 and 50 there, and I can guarantee they’ll be making plenty of noise. I might not be fighting in England, but it’ll still feel like a home show once a few of the lads get their voices going. I can’t wait to hear them.