Pegg: Why there will be no title re-match for Scott and Mykey

Scott Melvin after his epic victory over Mykey Lee-Broughton

CHELMSLEY Wood terrier Scott Melvin is now a junior-lightweight, or “super-feather” in today’s pugilistic parlance.

Melvin relinquished his Midlands lightweight belt rather than defend it in a rematch with Mykey Lee-Broughton – a bout called for by the Board of Control.

The pair fought out a small hall classic last September with an ending destined to become a Birmingham pub quiz question.

Trailing on points, Melvin dramatically turned the tables in the last round with withering body shots. The ref called a halt after Birmingham’s Broughton was violently ill on the ring apron.

In fairness, Melvin’s manager, Jon Pegg, had publicly unveiled plans to move the champ down in weight before the Board’s call for a re-match.

But the timing of the decision to vacate has not down well with Broughton’s boss Anthony Manning, I’d imagine.

Pegg is frank and forthright when discussing reasons. Beating Broughton again would not enhance 24-year-old Scott’s reputation, it would merely be going over old ground.

And he didn’t “enjoy” dealing with Manning for the first fight, staged by Pegg’s promotional partner Tommy Owens in Solihull. He has no appetite to repeat the experience.

He and Manning will not be exchanging Christmas cards this year.

Pegg said: “Mykey Lee-Broughton is a good fighter and the last one was a tough fight. If Scott beat him again he’d gain zero credit. It’s a big risk for zero recognition that follows a situation, last time, that was not enjoyable. Why would we want to do that again?

“We had the win in the bag, it wasn’t an enjoyable experience, so why do it again?”

He added: “It’s not that we avoid rematches. River Wilson-Bent was the home fighter when he and Tyler Denny met for the (vacant) English middleweight title (the contest ended in a technical draw).

“We agreed to the rematch because we felt Tyler was a bit unlucky and we worked well with his team. Look what Tyler went on to achieve.”

Pegg and Ashlee Eales. Will the light-middle face Amir Abubaker?

Interestingly, another title meeting between Pegg and Manning fighters has been put forward by the Board. It wants Pegg’s Midlands light-middle champ Ashlee Eales to defend against Manning’s Amir Abubaker. That’s a potential all-Coventry barnstormer.

Pegg’s amenable to the match-up, but has questioned whether Abubaker can make 11st.

“I can’t see how it happens,” he said. “Amir Abubaker has never made middleweight, never mind light-middleweight. He was 11st 8lbs for his debut and that’s the lightest he’s been.

“His last fight (a third round KO of Serge Ambomo), he didn’t look like a man who had 11lbs to come off him. If he does make the weight, will he be ready to fight in a 10 rounder?”