Lennox Clarke wanted to belt out this bout
Halesowen's Lennox Clarke would have been boxing for the Midlands super middleweight title tomorrow night if he'd had his way.
The 24-year-old tops the bill in an eight-rounder at Walsall Town Hall as he gets an opportunity to make it a dozen pro wins without reply,
The super middleweight has raced to 11 victories - with four inside the distance - and now takes on fearless brawler Dean Gillen.
The 'Summer Scorcher' show, promoted by Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing, is headlined by one of his brightest prospects.
Clarke has been a mandatory contender to his division's area belt, which has been vacated by Andrew Robinson, but his camp are struggling to find a co-challenger.
Gillen was put forward and is eligible, as he hails from Arnold in Nottinghamshire, but was deemed too inexperienced, at this stage.
The British Boxing Board of Control took into account his five-fight pro record, where he's won three on points and lost two and both by TKO.
A late arrival into paid boxing, the 34-year-old tried to walk through punches from Craig Bunn and banger Vijender Singh and paid the price.
Clarke possesses meat in his gloves, too, and holds one of the quickest knockouts in British boxing history. He decked Raimonds Sniedze after just 14 seconds in October 2014.
He's kept up his unbeaten status, although a bona-fide belt still eludes him. If he continues to have no joy with the Midlands crown, English champion Jahmaine Smyle could be his next target.
Clarke said: "It's like a game of chess, the titles in boxing, and every fighter is looking for bigger things and to make the right move. I'm no different.
"If we can't make a match for the Midlands, then I have to look past it. I'd have happily have boxed Dean for the title tomorrow, but it wasn't my decision.
"He's got a reputation, he's game and will offer me a good fight but, whatever he brings into the ring, I've got all areas covered.
"We stood on the scales and I noticed he was a bit taller than me, which is fine because I've prepared for his reach. I've trained hard for this.
"He's a stepping stone and, if I can't beat him, I'm not going to achieve where I think I can get to, which is around British title level.
"I'll be looking to outbox him and, if the chance comes along, overpower him. I'm very confident he'll feel how hard I can hit, at some point, over the eight rounds.
"This kid is a novice in the game, really, and when he does get hurt, he won't know what to do. That's when I'll move in for the kill."
Five four-round bouts supplement the feature attraction, with West Bromwich's Tom Stokes the other Black Country combatant in action.
Unbeaten middleweight Stokes is targeting his seventh win against busy scrapper Lewis van Poetsch, after dropping Luke Allon on his way to his sixth points victory last time out.
Craig Morris, from Ludlow in Shropshire, lifted the British Challenge super welterweight belt in just his fifth paid contest six months ago.
The 24-year-old southpaw headlined the first pro boxing show in his hometown since the 1930s and now returns to the scene of three of his victories, against Lithuanian Arvydas Trizno.
Birmingham's Luke Walker features at super welter against the teak tough Dan Blackwell. Fellow Brummie Jordan Clayton tackles the experienced Matthew Ashmole.
Coventry's James Montgomery completes the line-up, with 'the Full Monty' scheduled for action against Dwayne Sheldon.
Tickets, priced at £30 and £60 ringside, are still on sale now from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900 and will be available on the door at the show.
Sponsors Grosvenor Casino Walsall, Bentley Mill Way, will host the after-party (over 18s). A number of free taxis from Yellow Taxis will at the Town Hall to go to the casino.
