Troy Ross and John “Buster” Keeton in Commonwealth Boxing clash tonight

Troy Ross hopes beating John “Buster’ Keeton for the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Title tonight will edge him closer to facing the division’s top fighters.

Canadian Ross faces Sheffield’s British champion Keeton, (26-14), at the Montreal Casino on a Hennessy Sports Canada/GYM event, aiming to move his career on to the next level.

The Ontario fighter, who has also played boxers in two Hollywood films, claims he is ready to face the likes of Enzo Maccarinelli, the WBO title-holder, and David Haye, the European champion, after teaming up with British promoter Mick Hennessy and Canadian partner Adam Harris.

The former Canadian champion ended a 20-month ring break when he stopped Hastings Rasani of Zimbabwe in January on a Hennessy Sports event at the Alexandra Palace in London.

“This is a big title,” Ross (14-1) said. “This should elevate me into the top 10. That’s what I need to get the best fights and to help me get known.

“He’ll come straight in and try to mix it up, so I’ve got to use my jab and try to put combinations together. Keeton looks more like the brawling type.”

Ross, who won the Canadian title by stopping Toronto’s Claudio Rasco, starred in two feature films during his break from the ring.

He appeared in “Cinderella Man” as John Henry Lewis, who met James Braddock in Braddock’s penultimate fight before becoming world champion.

More recently he has filmed “Resurrecting the Champ’ with Samuel L. Jackson, but now he is switching his focus back to developing his professional career.

Adam Harris of Hennessy Sports Canada has mentioned David Haye, (18-1), or WBO champ Enzo Maccarinelli as possible British opponents if Ross gets by Keeton.

“We see an athlete in Troy that is underdeveloped from the promotional aspect,” Harris said. “We think we can make him a very big star.”

At yesterday’s weigh-in Ross, who was born in Guyana but left for Canada when he was seven, weighed in at 192.4 pounds while Keeton, known as the real-life Cinderella man after turning his roller coaster career around to win the British title aged 34, just made the limit at 200 pounds.

Keeton is feeling confident after stopping Lee Swaby in seven in his last fight five-months ago for the British crown.

“Troy had good amateur experience but I don’t think he has the experience as a pro,” Keeton said after stepping off the scales. “I just won a British title back in the UK which is a prestigious belt. I’ve trained very hard and I’m fit like never before, so hopefully we can put on a good show.”

The bout heads a card that includes a Canadian Light Middleweight Title clash between Fredericton native Ian MacKillop, (25-8-2), and Stephane Desormiers, (15-2), of Terrebonne.

Hennessy Sports WBC Light Welterweight champion Junior Witter will be ringside.