Marcel: My aim is to be the world champ

Marcel Drzewicki unloads on Morton. Picture: Inga Zulyte

THERE’S a boxing storm brewing in the beer town of Burton – stirred by slender Marcel Drzewicki.

And the Burton community is right behind the Polish born fighter as he attempts to achieve big things, world shaking things.

“My aim is to be a world champion,” Drzewicki told me. “That’s always been the goal. I want to make myself known in the world of boxing.

“A British title would be great, but that’s a stepping stone to a world title.”

Fans packed out Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms for Marcel’s debut last October, rattling the rafters with chants as he roared to a landslide points win over Scot Tony Morton.

And Drzewicki is confident his army of supporters will be swelled for his second professional outing on manager Anthony Manning’s “New Era” show on Saturday, March 1.

The venue is the same. The wall of sound that opponent Jack England walks into will be louder, Drzewicki – a whirlwind in the ring – has pledged.

“After the last fight, it feels like the word has spread,” the 23-year-old said. “Those who weren’t there for the first one don’t want to miss out on the second one.”

Being ringside for the mayhem of Drzewicki’s debut, I’m only surprised anyone in Burton missed out. It felt and sounded as if the whole town had shut for the night to watch the lad.

Make no mistake, the super-feather has a heavyweight following, bolstered by an Anglo-Polish fan club.

He was born in Poland, sports the country’s white eagle emblem on his ring attire and dad Lukasz, a former world class amateur, spits out instructions in Polish from the corner. Marcel has also taken part in amateur tournaments in the land of his father.

The Burton barmy army has had to wait nearly five months for Drzewicki’s follow-up pro performance after a respiratory infection laid him low: “It knocked me off my feet,” he said.

I can’t see Brentwood’s England, who has won only one of 14, raining on the Polish parade next month.

In Drzewicki, Anthony Manning has a big ticket-seller. In small hall boxing, putting bums on seats is the best defence a boxer can buy.

There’s no hype with Drzewicki, however – he can fight, as his record of only three losses in 27 amateur contests shows.

“I also boxed in Poland,” he said. “Over there, I sparred lads who have been to world and European championships.”

He sets a furious pace and unloads from strange angles. Taking my first glance of Drzewicki in violent action, I was surprised the apprentice electrician – tall, reed thin and sinewy – had managed to squeeze into the super-feather division.

“I make the weight with ease,” he told me. “And when I’m not watching what I’m eating, I’m walking around at 9st 10lbs – 9st 12lbs. If anything, I could make featherweight for a title fight.”

He was a good amateur, he’ll be a better pro, his team believes.

“I have always said it,” Drzewicki added. “Since I was 15-16, I’ve always said my style was more suited to the pros – just the pace and the ring-craft, it suits me much more. I feel I have the power for the pros.

“In your (professional) debut, you don’t know what to expect, I know what I’m in for now. I’ll be confident, calmer, I’m ready to put on another show.

“I leave my team to decide when it’s the right time for titles, but maybe 10 bouts under my belt and I’m ready, I’d consider myself comfortable in the pros.”

First, Drzewicki has to take care of Jack England. Birmingham should be on standby for that night – a sizeable portion of Burton is moving there.