Norman gets ready for title belt season

Dylan Norman…in action in Wolverhampton next month. Pic: GBM Sports

DYLAN Norman, the Knowle prospect with an army of fans, has warned title conquest are round the corner.

And those glories will surprisingly be at lightweight, the 12-0 prosect has stressed – a division I believed Norman had grown out of.

“I’ve got a nutritionist on board now, Paul O’Neill, who works with a lot of top fighters,” the 26-year-old told me. We are making lightweight, I’m not a super-lightweight.”

That has silenced my previous public call for Dylan Clift and Norman to meet for the vacant Midlands 10st title.

While waiting for bigger things, Norman, trained by Jon Costello, keeps the ring rust at bay on BCB’s October 17 show at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton, in what is expected to be a six rounder. An opponent has yet to be named.

After that, he wants bigger things. “We’re looking to really push for titles, it’s getting exciting,” Norman said. “Maybe the Commonwealth silver, I’m not sure, but I’m training in preparation.”

Without publicly going into his background, Dylan endured a tough – some may say harrowing – childhood before making his mark as a boxer. “I didn’t have the most amateur bouts,” he said, “but I’ve spent all my life in amateur gyms, it was just not being able to compete because of the rules surrounding growing up in foster care.

“Because of what I’ve been through, a fight is just another day at the office – I’ve had far and away a harder upbringing.”

Last time out, in March, Norman outpointed Mexican Christian Lopez Flores, dropping the veteran of close to 80 bouts with a body shot in the last. He is, he stressed, boxing better than ever, hitting harder than before.

“I’m sparring high end level people,” he said, “and not just holding my own, I’m the man on top. I didn’t think I’d have more gears, but I’ve found more gears. I get stronger the longer the fight goes on, I’m a very durable fighter – I’ll take you into deep waters.

“Jon (Costello) has really gelled with me, we are punch perfect together.”

The leafy Warwickshire village of Knowle is hardly a boxing hotbed, yet Dylan has emerged as a real ticketseller. He now wants to reward the Norman army with belts.

He added: “I’m blessed, the level of support is phenomenal. I think it’s because I bring back the old school style of fighting and that’s what people like. My style of fighting draws the crowd in.”