DYLAN Clift is adamant: he wants a step-up in opposition, his fans deserve a step-up in opposition.
The unbeaten Acocks Green welter nudged closer to the tests he craves on manager Anthony Manning’s recent Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, show.
Dylan took part in his first six rounder and, in Matthew King, faced an experienced opponent who has been in with good lads such as British champ Constantin Ursu, big punching Ben Vaughan and Irish hope Cathal Jennings.
The Hampshire boxer, who’s won eight of 24 (one draw), appears to have seen better days, however – the loss to Clift was his 10th on the spin.
Clift won clearly – 59-55 – and is unbeaten in six. The 23-year-old is now in the hunt for titles and is prepared to drop down to super-lightweight (10st) to capture them. He has yet to register a stoppage, but pledged the power is there.
“I had him (King) a good few times in the third and sixth,” Clift said, “but he hung in there. He definitely felt the power.
“It was the fittest I’ve been, the healthiest I’ve been – I felt like I could’ve done another 10 rounds. I felt very confident because of my fitness.”
Clift’s style is easy on the eye – he’s fast and aggressive – and he has a solid fanbase. It’s time to give those supporters something to really shout about, he stressed.
Dylan, who fights under the ring name “The Villain”, admits facing journeymen hellbent on survival has become “a bit boring”.
“This lad was a step-up, but it also didn’t feel like a massive step-up,” he said. “I’ve said to my manager, ‘get me a step-up’. Against men with a load more losses than wins it’s hard to sell tickets because people know what they’re coming to watch.
“My debut opponent (Marian Wesolowski) was a decent lad and, to this day, I believe it was my most exciting performance.
“The better the opposition, the better I’ll perform. It’s hard to look good against opponents who, when you hit them, either roll over or run away.”
This, Clift believes, is the year to make major strides. With a day before weigh-in, he’s confident the power and energy will still be there at super-light.
He added: “I want the titles and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be this year. For this camp I had a nutritionist and it made a big difference.
“I’ll take what they offer me. I’m happy to do Midlands level or jump straight up to the English title. Hopefully, the TV opportunities will come and when they do I think I’ll do well.”
