Cheema v Melvin is just mouth-watering says fight veteran PJ

Dylan Cheema…looking to bounce back into the big time

DYLAN Cheema – a lightweight who tasted boxing’s bright lights at the very start of his career – is again within touching distance of the big time.

At 30, Dylan has the chance to fulfil the grand predictions that once followed him.

There’s only one man standing in his way, a man he’s faced and beaten before – Scott Melvin.

The pair meet on August 29 in what looks a gem of an eight-rounder on MVP’s UK v USA undercard at BP Pulse Live, Birmingham. The Commonwealth silver title is on the line.

There’s history between the pair.  On Boxxer’s 2022 lucrative lightweight tournament, Cheema outpointed the Chelmsley Wood favourite and, despite being the rank outsider, went on to win the whole thing, bagging a big time promotional contract.

Things didn’t go to plan for Dylan after that. He lost a couple, took two years out, returned last year and is coming off a points defeat in a bid to become Midlands champ up at super-light.

For Cheema, who enjoys huge support in the Sikh community, the Melvin return represents a shot at redemption. Scott hasn’t lost since dropping that split decision and picked up the area title along the way.

He’s itching for revenge and supremely confident. At last week’s press conference to beat the drum for the battle, Melvin made much of his opponent’s absence, telling me: “That shows a lack of confidence.”

Cheema’s manager PJ Rowson has offered a reason for the no-show: “Dylan wants to concentrate on his boxing, that’s why he didn’t attend. His opinion was he’s been there, done that and would rather concentrate on the nitty-gritty rather than get caught up in the trash talk, if you like, which is part of modern boxing. He’s old fashioned, he simply wants to see what happens on the night.”

Both PJ and I agree that winning the Boxxer competition, which he entered after only two pro bouts, hindered Cheema’s apprenticeship. It could be argued it robbed him of a conventional apprenticeship: instead of learning his craft in small halls, Dylan was thrust onto big, televised shows. He wasn’t ready for that kind of media attention.

Both PJ and I also agree the return looks like being a barnstormer. “I think it’s going to be fight of the night,” he said. “We are under no illusions about how tough this is going to be. It’s a fight that needs to happen, it’s one I’m looking forward to immensely.

“This is a real 50-50, old-fashioned fight – it’s mouthwatering, it’s a fans’ favourite. For both of them, this is going to be their toughest fight.”