Cheema put forward for Midland title fight

Dylan Cheema…proposed title shot at lightweight. Picture: BCB

ANOTHER day, another raft of top quality proposed match-ups from the Midlands Board of Control.

Of course, the fact the local governing body wants them to happen doesn’t mean they’ll happen. The bouts have been put out for purse bids and it’s now a question of whether promoters want them.

But it’s heartening to see Coventry’s Dylan Cheema in the running for belts after a two year break from the sport.

He has been matched with Spencer Binks, from Bestwood Village, Nottinghamshire, for the vacant Midlands lightweight title.

It’s a fight I can see taking place – and Cheema would start favourite. Binks has won five, none inside distance, but has lost to journeyman Karl Sampson and drew in his debut with Dale Arrowsmith: Boh Karl and Dale have many more losses than wins.

What’s more, Cheema’s manager PJ Rowson wants his fighter to compete at title level. In a recent interview, PJ told me: “Dylan will be back in March. I’d like a title of some sort or an eight rounder. Yes,  the traditional route (is an option), but when you look at the fighters out there, there’s not a lot of difference in terms of quality between Midlands title level and English title level.”

I don’t share the same optimism over the proposed Midlands light-middleweight title defence by Carl Fail against Hereford’s tough and brave Liam O’Hare.

Fail, 11-0, is a former outstanding amateur who looked superb in halting Amir Abubaker for the belt. O’Hare, who held the Midlands title at super-middle, would want a large payday worthy of such a risk.

Liam admitted: “He’s a tall southpaw and, as you know, they’re not really my cup of tea. But I’ll fight anyone for a fiver. Ideally, we’d like to wait for him to vacate, but if I have to fight him, I’ll fight him.”

At light-heavy, Tamworth champ David Butlin has been slated to defend against exciting puncher Ben Andrews.

Ben hails from Devon, but is being guided by Black Country Boxing Promotions. He’s won all eight as a pro.

That’s a demanding battle for Butlin who is unbeaten in seven.

Promoters have until February 1 to submit purse bids for the contests.