Cheema gets perfect tune-up for TV show

Dylan Cheema last night…he enjoyed himself against Mairena

DYLAN Cheema entered the ring to the customary, colourful soundtrack of traditional drummers, then beat a steady rhythm on opponent Brayan Mairena’s head and body.

At Coventry’s Sports Connexion last night, the former Boxxer tournament winner had too much of everything for the Nicaraguan to handle. He treated home city supporters to his full repertoire, taking a landslide 40-36 decision after four one-sided rounds.

Ar times, I felt the 27-year-old was boxing within himself – and that would be understandable. On November 18, Cheema fights on the major, televised show at The Halls, Wolverhampton, topped by Tyler Denny’s European middleweight title tilt.

Mairena, who has won 15 of 50 (one draw), provided the perfect tune-up. He cuffed and scuffled, but was drilled by jabs and right hands.

“It was good,” Cheema said afterwards. “Four rounds of boxing, didn’t lose a round. Maybe I could’ve have pushed on a little more. I can go into the November 18 show confident, fresh and active.”

Manager PJ Rowson said: “Dylan’s been out (through injury) for a long time and it was about getting him out there.”

Cheema, who has lost only one of 10 bouts, in full flow is a joy to watch, a very elegant exponent of the noble art. He brings colour and a sense of theatre.

The drummers add drama, but after 30 seconds of them beating the skins only feet from my ringside position, I prayed for the noise to stop.

Cheema has his hand raised…now for the big Wolverhampton show

Lightweight Cheema’s style is as smooth as silk. He speared Mairena with jabs in the first, slotted rights to head and body and spread his arms in a show of mock disbelief after the visitor missed widely with a wild swing.

He was enjoying himself.

By the third, Cheema (10st 3lbs) had brought his crisp, textbook left hook into play. Mairena did connect with a left of his own, but it was a rare success. He was knocked back by a right in the last and showed grit to bite on his gumshield and endure the beat down until the final bell.

Cheema is back and much bigger things beckon. He got a workout against Mairena, title wars will surely follow.