By Terence Dooley
Luke Blackledge (23-5-2, 8 KOs) has decided to drop down to 160lbs as he bids to get back into the title mix in a new division following some setbacks at Super middleweight.
The Clitheroe-based boxer lost to Rocky Fielding (RSF 1), Callum Smith (TKO 10), Lolenga Mock (L 10) and Zach Parker (L RSF 1) at his previous weight, and now hopes to reinvigorate his career after working alongside 168lb WBA world titlist Tyron Zeuge in Germany.
“It was really tough over in Germany; I did 34 rounds with a world champion,” he said when speaking to The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times. “He dropped his other sparring partner twice so I ended up having to step in and do the rest of it. It was good and I enjoyed it but it feels like I've been run over. Tyron (Zeuge) has improved a lot. He's class. It's made me feel better about myself. I needed to get back in to the routine so it's helped me. I needed to get back to living like a fighter. I'm back now and I'm feeling razor sharp. I need to get a couple of wins and then hopefully I'll get a title fight in the summer.”
With one win in his past four fights, the 27-year-old knows that he has to make an immediate impact in his new division if he is to remain relevant so he has called for a showdown with Tommy Langford for the British title right off the bat as well as throwing the gauntlet down to Commonwealth holder Liam Cameron, but also stated that he needs to shake off some ring rust first after six-months of inactivity.
“The middleweight category is wide open,” he said.
“I'd fight for an Intercontinental belt, an English title, I'd take the Tommy Langford fight for the British. I would beat him. I watched his defence against Jack Arnfield, who I thought under-performed. I thought Jack should've beat him but I know that I'd beat him. It doesn't matter which title I go for. I would like to fight Liam Cameron again as well because he's got my Commonwealth. I want to build my record back up first.”
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