BOXING: Workout just the job for Blackwell (From Wiltshire Times)

BOXING: Workout just the job for Blackwell

3:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport By Dan Barnes

NICK Blackwell reckons his fight with Ruslans Pojonisevs last weekend was just what the doctor ordered as he made his first step back towards the top of the British middleweight scene.

The powerful 22-year-old was always in control against his Latvian opponent, claiming a comfortable 59-54 points win in front of his home crowd at the Trowbridge Civic Centre on Saturday.

‘Bang Bang’ was making his comeback from his spirited British and Commonwealth title bid against Billy Joe Saunders last year, and wants more tests against tough opposition as he bids to get more competitive rounds under his belt.

“I’m only 22 and I’m always progressing and learning. I need fights like that and I don’t want people that are going to last a round,” said the Contender Gym man.

“I had two fights before Billy Joe – one lasted three rounds and one lasted one round.

“(Chris) Eubank Jr fought (Pojonisevs) and didn’t do half of what I did to him – Eubank out-boxed him and jabbed him out.

“I could have jabbed him and ran around him but I wanted to step forward and put him on the back foot.

“I need two or three more fights like that – maybe I’ll step up to an eight-rounder next time and then some 10-rounders and then start looking at those titles again.

“I need the rounds. You can do as much as much sparring as you want with the best names but it’s different to being under the lights.”

Blackwell stalked his opponent around the ring, Pojonisevs being constantly driven back towards the ropes by the Trowbridge man’s power.

The home fighter went for the jugular in the final rounds, showing off some ferocious lightning-quick combinations but a host of low blow stoppages, mostly as a result of the Latvian’s lack of height, played havoc with his momentum.

Blackwell added: “He was tough. I was trying different things and I only caught him a few times in the body.

“Some of the shots that the referee said were low were ones where I caught him and he was just going down. The last one was a body shot on the hip.

“It was like a sauna out there – I only did six rounds but it felt like I did 12.”

Blackwell’s manager PJ Rowson is still tipping his man for the top.

“Nick needed a tough contest. He will go on way beyond domestic level and I consider him to be a future world champion,” said Rowson.

“I think that the British and Commonwealth (titles) will come to him in time and why shouldn’t he go further?

“There are plans in place going forward for Nick and there’ll be big announcements before the end of the year for him.”