Norman wins big for his beloved Della!

Norman celebrates victory over Osgood. Pic: JULIE LOCKLEY

MARAUDING lightweight prospect Dylan Norman had an added incentive to shine under the bright lights of Cannock’s Excelsior Sporting Club.

The entire purse gained following points victory over Jake Osgood will go toward’s the cost of his grandmother’s funeral.

Della, who financed the Knowle fighter’s professional start and was a mother figure, died after witnessing Dylan’s last performance, a one round wipeout in Tommy Owens’ Top Boxer tournament.

He was back in the ring last night at the Excelsior, 19 days after the tragedy, and dedicated the points victory to the 62-year-old.

Dylan told me: “It was difficult because my nan would’ve loved it. I got rid of a few demons last night during a difficult time and I know my nan was looking down and watching.

“It was amazing that I was able to dedicate the victory to her and that got a big cheer, it lifted my spirits. I want to thank Wayne (trainer Wayne Elcock) and the team for keeping me in the gym because I could’ve gone down the wrong path.”

Calisle’s Osgood was simply outgunned and outworked throughout the four rounder, losing by a whitewash 40-36 margin.

With a sole win in 34 contests, Jake told me: “When he thew loads of punches, I could handle them. When he stepped back and picked his shots they were more hurtful.

“Other than that, it was another dance on another dance floor.

Osgood bends under Norman’s attack. Pic: MICHAEL AULT

It was a trademark performance from Norman who collected his sixth win on the spin: high intensity, bags of aggression and foot pressed down on the pedal from the get-go.

With former middleweight champ Elcock in his corner, Dylan doubled the jab and worked his punches up and down.

Osgood copped a chopping right in the second and retreated to a corner where Dylan landed hooks to head and body.

In the third, a left downstairs drew a defiant grin from the visitor, but he was fooling no one. Osgood was being worked over.

Those double jabs followed by left hooks to the body continued in the fourth as Norman cranked-up the astonishing tempo.

Of his performance, Dylan said: “I didn’t get out of second gear because I didn’t feel I needed to get out of second gear. It will help for the final of Top Boxer (Norman faces Michael Mooney in November) and that’s when I’ll show what I’ve got in the locker, that’s where I’ll showcase my skills, that’s when I unleash it all.”

If last night was Dylan Norman in second gear, the man must be a blur in fourth.