Cheema v Melvin - the dream pairing I’d love to see happen

Poster for Cheema’s October 14 fight in his home city

DYLAN Cheema, the Coventry fighter with lightning reflexes reminiscent of Amir Khan, faces Harley Marginson on the major Sports Connexion show on October 14.

I’m a fan of the banghra banger, a former kick-boxing star who sprang from nowhere to capture the high-profile Boxxer lightweight tournament, bagging a lucrative cash prize and major promotional deal.

He has a swashbuckling style and brings a carnival atmosphere to fight nights, his ring walk accompanied by a band of drummers. It’s a happening.

The 27-year-old has introduced youngsters of Indian heritage to the game, in interview he’s highly articulate.

It is, however, hard to get excited by the match-up with Manchester’s Marginson, an ambulance crew member who turned to boxing after representing his country as a wrestler.

He’s tough, game, but has lost all nine pro bouts. West Midlands fans saw him in last month’s Top Boxer tournament, staged at Planet Ice, Solihull. Harley was outpointed by Michael Mooney, the Worcester veteran winning for the first time in over four years.

Cheema’s clash with Marginson is sensible, if not dramatic.

The fighter is a work in progress, both blessed and cursed by his Boxxer victory. Winning the competition marked him as a future star, gained him appearances on major, televised shows, but, in my opinion, hindered the learning process.

I should’ve been writing about a young man impressing and growing in small halls. Instead, he has been judged on the biggest of stages.

That’s a lot of pressure for a fighter who entered the Boxxer competition as a mere novice, with only two contests to his name.

When, last November, he lost by a single point to Jordan Ellison over four rounds, some writers deemed it a catastrophe, the bursting of a bubble.

It wasn’t. It was a lesson.

Dylan Cheema will be a fine fighter. That is the curse of the memorable Boxxer victory: he will be, he isn’t there yet.

Scott Melvin…newly crowned Midlands champion

Shall I tell you an eminently sensible step for Dylan and Ben Shalom, the boss of promotional outfit Boxxer which has invested in Cheema?

Shall I tell you a fight that will be welcomed by fans, critics and both boxers, a fight with the potential to draw big crowds and provide gripping TV?

How about a battle with Birmingham’s Scott Melvin – the man Dylan beat on split decision in the Boxxer semi-final? At stake would be the Midlands title Melvin won so dramatically last month.

Both have identical records – eight wins, one loss, with both stopping two opponents.

It’s a fight, I believe, both would want. It provides Cheema with a title opportunity, Chelmsley Wood’s Melvin with the chance of revenge. It’s not going to be difficult to make.

More importantly, I believe the fight would be a barnstormer.

I don’t know if Ben Shalom reads my words. If he does, I urge him to consider the pairing.

The fans want it, I believe the boxers want it – and TV audiences would be treated to a cracker.

As always, I’d love feedback from fans