Clift title call comes at the wrong time for prospect McCracken

Oscar McCracken and dad Spencer Snr….big show dates ahead

THE most intriguing in a clutch of proposed Midlands title fights has already hit trouble.

The clash of young unbeatens Dylan Clift and Oscar McCracken for the vacant welterweight belt may not be dead in the water, but won’t happen in the time frame put forward by the area Board of Control.

Oscar – part of Birmingham’s famous boxing dynasty – is already committed to dates on televised shows, his team have stated.

That’s a shame because – at its level – the 10 rounder would’ve been a good battle. Acocks Green’s Clift, managed by Anthony Manning, has won seven and possesses an aggressive, all-action style.

Oscar is 7-0 and is the pro game’s only qualified legal eagle, hence his glorious ring name, Oscar “De La Lawyer” McCracken. He has a rich boxing pedigree, with dad Spencer Snr a fine pro and uncle Robert a British champ and tasted big time arena boxing for the first time in May. On a Boxxer Wembley bill topped by Adam Azim, Oscar outpointed Steven Wallace over four rounds.

Dylan Clift…waiting on a new opponent for vacant Midlands title fight

It needs to be stressed the Board of Control put forward proposed title fights, they are not set in stone: the contests take place if the boxers, their teams and promoters want them to happen. They need an expression of interest, they need someone to bid for them.

Purse bids for Clift-McCracken and two other championship bouts need to be submitted by September 10, the fights to take place by the end of December.

On the basis Oscar has not agreed to face Clift, his brother Spencer Jnr, a trainer at McCracken’s Birmingham gym, has a valid point when stating: “Oscar hasn’t been pulled out from anything.

“The Board have tried to order a fight without contacting our team to see if it is even possible.” The Board don’t have to do that – they select those they’d like to fight for their belts and the Midlands Council has, in recent years, put forward some mouthwatering matches: not all of them come to fruition.

Spencer Jnr added: “Everybody knows Oscar has started to get on big shows and he has already agreed to two fights by the end of the year - both on big cards, Boxxer and a big international card.

“Oscar would love that fight (Clift), but with big plans already made the timing doesn’t work out on this occasion.”

Clift understands, telling me: “It wasn’t the right time for him which is a shame because I think it’s a good fight between two boxers pretty much at the same stage and on the same path.”

Dylan insisted he’ll still fight for the title and is now waiting for a new name. I have a name to throw into the pot, Knowle’s Dylan Norman, riding a 12 bout unbeaten run.

Norman’s stated his future is at super-light, but has competed at welter. Like Clift, he’s come-forward and aggressive. Like Clift, he has a healthy fanbase. Sparks, I’m sure, would fly.