Micky Steeds is hoping his decision to play the weighting game will pay off tonight when he bids to win the British cruiserweight title.
Norton looking to make most of second shot at British belt
Micky Steeds is hoping his decision to play the weighting game will pay off when he bids to win the vacant British cruiserweight title.
The 25-year-old takes on Robert Norton in Burton-on-Trent on Friday night,
live on Sky Sports, to decide who will wear the Lonsdale belt.
Steeds is no stranger to challenging for the British strap having gone up against Scott Gammer in just his 10th fight, though that was at heavyweight.
Since that defeat in October 2006 the fighter from the Isle of Dogs has shed two stones and dropped down a division, even getting a new hair cut to boot.
Stronger
"I do feel a lot stronger, a lot faster, a lot fitter. Hopefully the change will be for the good," he told
Sky Sports.
"I think I've got to keep my composure and keep moving around his left hand because he's got a big left hook. I've got to keep flinging out the right hands and get my work done before he ties me up.
"I'm just going to keep pushing and pushing until I'm lifting that belt up at the end."
However, beating Norton will not be an easy task. The 37-year-old has only been stopped once inside the distance in his 34-fight career.
Long wait
He has failed in one attempt to win the title before, losing on points to Mark Hobson in Sheffield over five years ago.
The man from Dudley is now determined to grasp this long-awaited second opportunity and bring the prize to the Midlands.
"I've waited a long time for this chance," he said. "I can't let it go. I'll be trying my hardest to win the fight and bring it (the belt) back to the Midlands.
"I've been waiting three or four years - there's plenty of frustration there to be fair. I'm in good shape and there's no two ways about it, I'm hungry for this fight."
