Askin Looking Down Road To British Title Clash

Matty Askin is in a hurry to get to grips with British cruiserweight champion – Shane McPhilbin.

The Blackpool hitter (12-0) faces John Lewis Dickinson in a title eliminator this spring, with the winner challenging for a Lonsdale belt later this year.

Askin, 23, warms up for the Dickinson test when he meets Hungarian – Attila Palko (12-1) over six rounds at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium, on Saturday (Feb 4).

He said: “I would fight McPhilbin tomorrow if I could. That is how confident I am of beating him. It looks like McPhilbin will squeeze in a voluntary against Tony Conquest before the mandatory against myself or Dickinson.

“I hope that after beating Dickinson I will challenge Conquest – because he will be a much harder fight than McPhilbin. No disrespect to McPhilbin, but if he wasn’t British champion there wouldn’t be too many people interested in fighting him.”

Palko, 25, has knocked out ten of his 12 victims and insists he can shatter Askin’s title aspirations.

Askin added: “I am going into the fight blind because I cannot find any DVDs or fights on YouTube.I know vaguely what Palko looks like from one picture, but my trainer Bob Shannon and I have a game plan that will see us through.”

Topping the show being televised by Sky Sports, is Bury’s Scott Quigg – who makes the first defence of his British super-bantamweight crown against Welshman – Jamie Arthur.

Also in action on Saturday’s card is former Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion – Rendall Munroe who boxes Argentinian Jose Saez in a non-title eight rounder.

Other fights: Stephen Foster Jr v Yauheni Kruhlik, Joe Murray v Jose Luis Graterol, Craig Lyon v Yuri Voronin, Jazza Dickens v Barrington Brown, Feargal McCrory v Sid Razak and Tasif Khan v Delroy Spencer.

Boxing starts at 6.15pm and tickets are priced at £35, £55 and £75 VIP ringside. You can buy by calling 01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991 or online www.hattonboxing.com