Ben Wilkes ready to make the step up
Essington's Ben Wilkes is ready to make the step up after making it nine professional boxing wins in Birmingham on Friday night.
The 28-year-old middleweight shut-out the game Mark Till at the Venue to record his 10th paid win as a professional,
Wilkes had to work for a points shut-out on a bill staged by trainer Dean Edwards, Ricky Hatton's former coach Lee Beard and John Costello, father of fighters Thomas and Joe.
He woke up after getting tagged with a right hook early on, but recovered well to close out the distance looking for the stoppage.
And Wilkes, who will be taking a break from the sport to get married in the autumn, is confident he'll be able to halt his opponents with more time to spare.
He said: "I'll enjoy my holiday and then come back raring to go, but I feel I'm the sort of fighter who needs to break people down.
"I felt I performed well, that shot woke me up but I got back to my boxing and, by the finish, I was really hurting him with left hooks to the body.
"We knew he'd come to fight and he was always in my face, which made me perform. Fair play to him. He started to mark up, so I knew I was getting through.
"He came to fight and something had riled him, as he wouldn't touch gloves properly before we started. It was certainly a live opponent."
Wilkes has now registered 10 wins in the paid ranks, which makes him about ready to be a contender to title fights.
And he's ready for the call, adding: "I can't rush it, but I'll be ready when the right fight comes. We'll see what's right for me.
"I don't really fear anyone, it's a boxing ring and, if I get my game plan right, I've got a chance. I just want to keep ticking over."
Meanwhile, Dudley's Jamie Gelder never got to throw a punch against Nathan Decastro as the bout had to be called off.
Rioting caused the promoters to call the bout off which was staged on a stately home in the middle of nowhere, at the Stoke Rochford Hall in Lincolnshire.
Rumour has it trouble spread to the lawns of the venue.
