Melvin edges closer to English title shot

Scott Melvin…fights in a title eliminator on June 29 in Coventry

SCOTT Melvin, a man who, by day, is currently laying pipes for the HS2 line, believes his career is travelling at full steam to a British title and beyond.

“I’d fight anyone in the domestic lightweight division and be confident of beating them,” Chelmsley Wood’s self-styled “Terrier” told me.

With one defeat in 10 – and that was a meaningless split decision loss in a three round tournament, Melvin continues the drive towards bigger things on GBM’s bumper June 29 show.

At Coventry Skydome, the 23-year-old faces Kurt Jackson, from Pontefract, Yorkshire, in an English title eliminator. Melvin should be a warm favourite: Jackson has lost only one of six, but has faced undemanding opposition, never been beyond six rounds and is yet to register a stoppage.

His one real test, against unbeaten Ben Marksby, ended in points defeat.

“I’ve seen one fight of his on YouTube,” Melvin, from Birmingham’s Eastside gym, admitted. “He looks a decent boxer, he pops his jab out well. He doesn’t seem to have a lot of power, but you never know. We’ll see.”

On the June 29 show, Melvin was to have defended the Midlands title he won in an epic battle with Mykey Lee-Broughton.

Yet for the second time, GBM has seen the mouthwatering meeting with unbeaten Ameen Khalid go south: the pair were originally slated to battle for the title on the promoters’ March 9 Coventry show.

“I really don’t know why we’re not fighting, I don’t know what happened,” Scott said. “I only know it was all on from my side.”

This will be Melvin’s second appearance on a GBM production – a GBM show is covered in showbiz glitter - but, as yet, he’s not been offered a contract.

“At the moment, I’m doing it fight by fight,” he said. “If I impress them, they might want to sign me. I’ve got to keep on performing, look good, do what I have to do my end.”

Melvin came of age in the Mykey Lee-Broughton thriller last September. Trailing on points, he dragged victory from the jaws of defeat in the 10th and final round through body shots.

He is, he stressed, a much better fighter for that experience.

“I feel like a mature professional fighter now,” he said. “I’ve learned about the pro game, I’ve learned the tricks about fighting on the inside and taking shots on the gloves.

“Definitely I see the British title as the minimum. It’s about patience and having a good team around you and I have a very good team.

“I just want to do what I have to do.”