Mutley will play Fewkes at own game

West Bromwich's Young Mutley is planning to beat John Fewkes at his own game when the two wage war in Coventry later this month.

Mutley faces an eight-rounder against the 'Fireball' from Sheffield at the Skydome in 13 days time, in his second fight at light welterweight since deciding to permanently drop down from welter after reaching the semi-finals of Prizefighter last December.

The 33-year-old underlined his arrival by taking just three rounds to put away the well-regarded Scott Woolford in February, and another showcase against English title challenger Fewkes would be another step in the right direction.

Some 14 knockouts in 28 fights as a pro have made him a feared puncher, and the veteran believes his opponent's only option is to use skill rather than power to fend him off.

But Mutley insists that is another weapon in his arsenal after going back to trainer Jay Shinfield, with emphasis on speed at their training base across the Midlands in Derby.

All manner of sparring partners have put in the other corner to keep him on his toes, including European super bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe and former English light welter title holder Scott Haywood.

And the big-hitting Black Country fighter feels it's merely honing skills that were always there, pointing to his performance in outpointing Michael Jennings for the British welterweight crown way back in January 2006.

He said: "If I can get a clean dig on him, I definitely think I can knock him out. He's a good boxer, he feints a lot and I reckon he will be going in there to outbox me, but we will see whether he will be able to do that.

"I can box as well, I proved that against Michael Jennings, I am not just a puncher."