NATIONAL title prospect John Fewkes promises to be back with a bang in September.
The Norfolk Park lightweight is being lined up for a shot at the English title against Martin Gethin of Walsall.
It is the Sheffielder's first fight since he was forced to pull out of a planned fight in the Midlands against then champion John Murray.
Manchester man Murray has since relinquished the English crown, and purse bids will be made for Fewkes and Gethin to compete for the vacant honour.
Fewkes, speaking on a video link on thestar.co.uk website, said he had not seen a lot of Gethin, but added that the fact he was unbeaten in 14 fights marked him out as a "decent kid".
But he warned: "I am going to win, there is no doubt about that. You have got to believe you are going to win or you're fighting an uphill battle."
Fewkes, aged 22, said that a bout of gastroenteritis had prevented him from boxing Murray, although he recognised some gossips had claimed he had pulled out through weight problems.
"There are always going to be critics," he said. I have been in boxing over 10 years, pro for four. There's always somebody jealous who wants to nit-pick.
"I'm only bothered about the opinions of people who I value, people who know boxing, people who I admire and look up to. As long as they know the truth, let other people talk."
Fewkes did admit he loved his food - and that "protein shakes, porridge, chicken and tuna" didn't tickle his taste buds.
But he said he would be even more disciplined as he gets older.
*Watch out for more boxing tomorrow.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 332 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
