McDonnell to focus on bid for belt

The English champion is putting his bantamweight career on hold despite outpointing Ukranian born Nikita Lukin at Bethnal Green's historic York Hall last Friday

The 21 year-old knew prior to the Lukin fight that he would be taking on Stoke's English flyweight champion Chris Edwards for the inaugural British super-flyweight title in either Doncaster or Barnsley on November 30.

Manager John Rushton claims that McDonnell's win over Lukin will stand him in good stead against Edwards.

"Lukin was a lot more experienced than Jamie, who has only had nine fights as a professional, and he was coming down from a bigger weight," he said.

"There are obviously one or two things that Jamie needs to work on but we knew that would be the case before the fight because he is on a learning curve.

"Overall I thought that he acquitted himself very well against an awkward opponent and I don't think that either Ian Napa or Lee Haskins, who were involved in a British bantamweight title fight on the same bill, could have done any better.

"I certainly think that he is good enough to beat Edwards - so much so that I am already thinking about his first defence against Doncaster's Andy Bell."

Edwards, however, sees things differently. Edwards last fought in May when he went 12 rounds with Dale Robinson in a British and Commonwealth flyweight title clash which since been nominated as 2006 Fight of the Year. Honours were declared even after a closely contested bout and consequently the titles remain vacant.

Edwards decded to turn his attention to the new super-flyweight division after a proposed title rematch fell through when Robinson announced his retirement.

Edwards was at the York Hall on Friday to run the rule over the Doncaster man.

"That was the second time that I've seen Jamie and he didn't produce any surprises," he said. "He's a good boxer and because he's tall and rangy he will present me with a few problems but nothing that I won't be prepared for."

"I've been training for the re-match with Dale and I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be facing him again. But now I have to focus on getting ready to meet Jamie and I will be ready when the time comes."

"Travelling to South Yorkshire doesn't worry me. I've fought away from Stoke for most of my career so it's nothing new for me."