West Bromwich boxer Young Mutley has warned his rivals that age is only making him stronger as the quest to return to the top of the mountain continues next month.

The 33-year-old dropped down to light welter at the end of last year for one last push toward domestic glory, with another chance to impress in front of the Sky Sports cameras up next against John Fewkes at Coventry’s Skydome on April 23.

Promoter Frank Maloney and his camp had proposed to the British Boxing Board of Control that the bout should be a British title eliminator, but is now expected to go ahead as a standard eight-rounder.

Mutley has already been offered champion Lenny Daws once at short notice, soon after his run to the semi-finals of Prizefighter in December, but turned him down and Jason Cook took his place.

The Black Country puncher is adamant there will be no fight with Daws until the time is right, for what will likely be his last chance to become a British champion again after a five-month run with the welter belt in 2006.

Some ring observers feel that was Mutley at his peak, but the veteran feels his past experiences have made him a more formidable opponent today.

He said: “I have got more motivation, I have been there at the top and I know what I have go to do if I want to be at that level again. I am a better boxer now than when I won the British title, I train so much harder and I feel I am actually getting stronger as I get older.

“I certainly hit harder now, that is why I am spending most of my time working on my speed, because my punch is certainly going nowhere.”

A natural welterweight, Mutley smashed through Scott Woolford inside three rounds in February to underline the punching power he brings to the division.

The heavy hitter will not hesitate to do the same to Fewkes, but is training to go the full eight rounds.

He said: “I am not worried about going the distance because I am fit enough, in fact I am fitter than I have ever been, so I won’t have any problems.

“But I will try to put Fewkes away, I want to get the rounds in but I want to stop him later on in the fight.”

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