Cheema cruises his first six round test
Dylan Cheema…shook off the ring-rust at Eastside Rooms, Birmingham
THE carnival that is Dylan Cheema’s professional career – a journey played out to a soundtrack of traditional drummers – is again moving, again dancing in the right direction.
After nine months out, partly through injury, the golden boy of Sikh boxing returned yesterday (Sunday) in his first six rounder.
The Coventry lightweight gave a near faultless display to take every round from the wildly unorthodox Gurjant Singh, a man who throws some distinctly weird shapes in the ring.
Dylan, aged 27, didn’t allow himself to become distracted on BCB’s bill at The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham. Speed, skill and technical ability turned what could’ve been a banana skin into a breeze.
“It was good to get six rounds after nine months off,” said Dylan. “Singh’s as tough as they come and that was what I needed, a tough six rounder.
“I stuck to the game plan. They (my team) were happy with the way I handled his antics, I was having none of it. I picked my shots, I didn’t get caught that much.”
Cheema will be mightily relieved to have his show back on the road. Now 8-1, he came from nowhere to claim last year’s major, televised Boxxer tournament, a triumph that gained him a dream promotional contract and slots on big boxing bills.
Yesterday (Sunday) it was back to the bread and butter of small halls.
Dylan hit something of a bump on the road to glory last November when Jordan Ellison outpointed him by a single point over four rounds.
It can happen to a boxer at the beginning of his career and I was surprised some deemed it more than a setback.
“What’s next, that’s the big question?” said Cheema. “For me, the big one looming would be a rematching with Ellison, I want that return. Those around me may not want it that way.
“It’s about getting back on Boxxer (shows). We’ll sit down and see what dates they have available. It’s about staying busy, I’d like to have two more fights this year.
“When you come from nowhere to win Boxxer the way I won it, the response following the Ellison defeat is understandable. Fighters will step up and grab the opportunity (against me).
“It was the same with Ellison. I don’t look on him as a journeyman. He’s an experienced boxer, he’s done the 10 round distance, the six round distance regularly. I thought the loss was built up to be more than it was.”
Dylan Cheema, a man with an army of fans, is back – and West Midlands boxing is the better for it.