By Elliot Foster
Bradley Skeete wants a swift return to action after retaining his British welterweight title on Friday.
The Penge man, who regards himself as a world-class fighter, has just one notch remaining before keeping the prized Lonsdale belt outright.
And he is targeting another date within five weeks as he looks to move up in level.
Skeete competently dispatched of Shayne Singleton inside five rounds at the Brentwood Centre in Essex, knocking down his mandatory challenger late in round three and then again in round four, both from right hands to the head, exclusively live on BoxNation.
He wants to move up in class, but Skeete also believes that the British title is the most prestigious belt in boxing and wants it for keeps.
Dale Evans has been mandated to challenge for the belt, which Skeete won against Sam Eggington back in March 2016 and retained against John Thain last November, and the holder hopes that it can happen as soon as possible.
“I want to move up in levels but I’ve got one more [defence of the belt] and I’m stubborn,” Skeete said in a post-fight interview with iFL TV.
“If an opportunity came [for me to give up the belt and move up in class], it’s got to be a big one.”
Evans was last in action in May when he outpointed Kevin McCauley over four rounds in Swansea.
“I’m sure he’s ready to go,” Skeete continued. “I’m ready to go and I’ve told my manager [Andy Ayling] that [my promoter] Frank [Warren] has a big show and I want to get out on that.”
The big show Skeete refers to is Warren’s ‘Mad Men’ promotion on July 8 at the Copper Box Arena in London, exclusively live on BT Sport and BoxNation, which is set to be topped by Billy Joe Saunders in a defence of his WBO middleweight world title against Avtandil Khutsidze.
“My hands are fine, I’ve got no cuts and no bruises and I’m ready to go. Let’s make everyone happy, give Frank what he wants, get the belt outright and then move on to bigger and better things.”