John Dignum is gunning to join UK’s top middleweights (From Echo)

John Dignum is gunning to join UK’s top middleweights

2:06pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport By James Colasanti

JOHN Dignum has set his sights on becoming one of the county’s best middleweights as he prepares for his fourth professional fight at York Hall next month.

The 20-year-old, rated as one of Britain’s best prospects, is on the undercard of the Billy Joe Saunders title fight and is waiting to find out who his opponent will be at the show – set to be screened live on BoxNation.

His opponent could be any one of 10 or 15, and he does not expect to find out who it will be until about three weeks before the bout.

But Dignum acknowledges it will be a tough test whoever it is, and admits he fights in one of the county’s best divisions.

He said: “At the top now you’ve got Darren Barker, Martin Murray and Billy Joe Saunders — so there’s a lot of good fighters at this weight.

“But one day I want to be at the top with them — that’s what I aim for.”

Dignum lives in Bowers Gifford and moved his training to the local Fight Farm gym at Smilers Farm in Pound Lane six months ago.

He made his pro debut at York Hall in January 2012 and beat Ryan Clark on points.

Since then he has had a decision defeat to Lee Noble in June, and a verdict win against Joe Walsh in November.

He said: “The defeat was hard to take because when you turn pro you don’t want a loss on your record so early.

“But it was just one of those things and now I just want to get some wins and get my record back on track.

“But I’ve learnt a lot and working under Jason Rowland has been great.

“He’s a former British champion and very experienced, and I’m just trying to pick up bits from other people and just learn the game.”

Dignum will fight in the undercard of Saunders’ fight with Matthew Hall on March 21 at the famous venue in Bethnal Green, when the Hertfordshire fighter puts his British and Common-wealth middleweight titles on the line.

The main support on the Frank Warren promotion sees Penge welterweight Bradley Skeete making the first defence of his Southern Area title against Basingstoke’s Darryl Still.