John Dignum ready for "learning curve" fight against experienced Kieron Gray (From Echo)

John Dignum ready for "learning curve" fight against experienced Kieron Gray

4:43pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport By James Colasanti

JOHN Dignum admits it’ll be a “learning curve” when he faces the experienced Kieron Gray in his fourth pro fight at York Hall next week.

The 20-year-old from Bowers Gifford, who is on the undercard of the Billy Joe Saunders title fight, will face the 35-year-old from Telford in a middleweight contest at the famous venue in Bethnal Green on Thursday, March 21.

Dignum, rated as one of Britain’s prospects, discovered who his opponent would be on Tuesday, and says he’s looking forward to the bout.

“It will be learning curve for me,” said Dignum, who is trained by former British champion Jason Rowland at the Fight Farm gym in Pound Lane. “This guy has won five and lost 12, so he’s got some good experience and it will be a tough fight.

“But my training has gone well and I feel ready, and it will just be case of focussing on some speed work this week.

“I’m not sure what sort of fighter he is, but my coach will know and we’ll be ready for him.

“It will just be a case of watching some videos of him this week, talking to my coach, and working out how to approach the fight.”

Gray is nick-named the “Slammer”, and his last fight was a points defeat to Liam Conroy over six rounds.

In July last year, Gray missed out on the biggest fight of his career against Chris Eubank Junior after broadcasters Channel Five decided the rising star needed an opponent with an unbeaten record.

Dignum, a southpaw counterpuncher who has two wins and a defeat since making his pro debut in January 2012, will fight in the undercard of Saunders’ fight with Matthew Hall when the Hertfordshire fighter puts his British and Commonwealth 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.

The show is live on BoxNation.