Keith Sheen can't wait for next fight

Halesowen's boxing Royal Marine Keith Sheen admits he can't wait to get his hands on Andrew Patterson at Birmingham's Holiday Inn on July 22.

The still-serving welterweight will be in action over four rounds with hometown advantage going to his opponent, although Sheen himself originally hails from the Second City.

But the 30-year-old boxes proudly out of the Black Country, looking to get his career up and running again after a seven-month break since losing his unbeaten record to International Masters champion Jamie Way on points in his third professional bout last December.

By contrast, Patterson fights once a month at least regularly during the boxing season and, despite a pro record reading just one win in 12, is not the walkover you would expect.

Mark Walsh found that to his cost last Friday night, as the unbeaten home fighter was tested and had to dig deep to pull out a points win, in what was the fight of the night at Leicester's Ramgarhia Community Centre.

Word of that has gotten back to Sheen, who is rubbing his hands with glee at the prospect of a cracker in the THIRD time the two have been scheduled to meet in the ring.

He said: "I am really looking forward to this one, to be honest, because Andrew comes to have a go. It should be a good fight, literally touch gloves at the start and then get on with it. I am raring to go, have been for months, and he is the right type of opponent for that.

"Patterson will come to meet me in the centre of the ring, I do prefer that I must admit. As much as I like to box, I still like to have a good scrap.

"He's strong and is a fit kid, so he's going to push me."