Melvin promises to get painful revenge
Scott Melvin at Tuesday’s press conference. Picture: Julie Lockley
SCOTT Melvin, the Chelmsley Wood terrier, swept his open hand across the room and asked: “Where is he?”
The “he” in question is Coventry lightweight Dylan Cheema, the man Melvin faces in a mouthwatering rematch in just over two weeks time.
Cheema is a notable absentee from the press “head-to-head” before their eight rounder on the undercard of MVP’s ambitious August 29 UK v USA card at the BP Pulse Live arena, Birmingham. It’s the first of what is to be an annual event pitching our best female fighters against their best female fighters.
Melvin’s sermon is being delivered in a former Coleshill church, now home to his own gym, Eastside.
“He doesn’t want to be near me,” the 26-year-old announced, “because seeing me is reality. He wants to stay away.
“He’s not even announced (on social media) he’s fighting, he’s not turned up. That’s a lack of confidence.”
In fairness to Cheema, reasons for his unavailability were not given, but the empty seat allowed Melvin to hold court uninterrupted.
There’s history between the pair. In 2022, fledgling pro Cheema outpointed Melvin over three rounds in Boxxer’s knockout tournament. He went on to win the whole thing, bagging a lucrative cash prize and promotional deal that thrust him on the big stage.
That is Melvin’s only loss in a 13 bout career dogged by injury and title fight cancellations. “One hundred per cent I underestimated him,” Scott said of the sole setback. “I’d never heard of him – he came from kickboxing.
“I beat the (tournament) favourite (Tion Gibbs) and thought I’d won the whole competition. I was too relaxed in the first round, I didn’t do enough. The return’s going to be very different, I know I have to stay switched on.”
After that night, Cheema lost two, took a two year break from the game, returned last year and is coming off a narrow points defeat to veteran Kirk Stevens for the Midlands super-lightweight belt.
Another “l” on his 14 bout CV would be hard to rebuild from.
Melvin hasn’t fought since November. “It’s a hard career with a lot of obstacles, it’s not an easy career,” Scott said. “The time out I’ve had has done me the world of good mentally. I’m ready for the big stage, the big fights.
“This is a must win for both of us, we both have to win the fight, there’s pressure on both of us. Winning Boxxer, I don’t think he was ready for what came with it, he was too inexperienced, everyone was blowing smoke up his backside. I’ve done it the right way.
“I want titles, big fights. I want to do it on the big shows, I want to push on. The public haven’t seen the best of me, they’ve seen nowhere near what I’m capable of and I’m excited about showing it in this one.”
Melvin added: “When the bell goes, I’m going to give him some pain. I know he’s not at my level, I’m just going to beat him up.”