Ten rounder next for top prospect Dylan

Dylan Norman…looking for a title eliminator in June

KNOWLE’S wildly popular Dylan Norman is set to step-up to 10 round championship class.

The unbeaten prospect is looking to fight over the distance at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, on June 7 in a title eliminator.

Which title has not yet been released, but Dylan, unbeaten in 10, will definitely not be facing Leicester’s Callum Blockley for the vacant Midlands super-lightweight (10st) belt – a match called for by the Board of Control.

Both Norman and manager Jon Pegg have stressed his future lies at lightweight.

“I can make lightweight pretty easy,” Dylan said. “I came in at 10st 2lbs on the day for my last fight and didn’t have to diet too much.”

Dylan returned in February with an emphatic six rounds victory after being sidelined for nine months with a serious hip injury that required surgery.

The 24-year-old added: “I feel good, really good. I feel I’m really getting the ball rolling and ready push for a title this year. We’re seeing a lot of success in the gym (Eastside), with both Jess Barry and Nyall Berry recently winning English title fights. There’s no reason why I can’t add to that success.

“Big thanks to everyone who has got me in this position, including my sponsors Glasstower Jewellery.”

Jon Pegg stressed: “Dylan is not a super-lightweight – he makes 10st 1lbs. We want to step him up slowly because he’s a work in progress and he’s still young. There’s no rush with him. He puts the work in, he’s very keen and strong.

“Sometimes he has a few self doubts and he shouldn’t, but that’s the way with most boxers.”

The proposed Norman – Blockley title fight may have gone south, but other top clashes have been made or are in the pipeline.

Black Country feather Ryan Griffiths will defend his area title against unbeaten Jack Dillingham from Heanor, Derbyshire, it has been confirmed, though a date and venue has yet to be announced. And the Midlands arm of the Board of Control have called on Sian O’Toole, who also boxes under the BCB banner, to defend her female featherweight title against Doina Costin, from Northampton.

Purse bids have been called for Great Barr prospect Omarah Taylor to face Newark’s Jade Grierson for the vacant female welterweight title.