Danny Dignum challenges WBO European middleweight champ Danny Dignum
Former Southern Area champion Grant ‘Go-Getter’ Dennis (17-3, 3KOs) challenges undefeated Danny Dignum (13-0-1, 7KOs) for his WBO European middleweight title this Friday, February 11, at the York Hall in London, live on IFL TV worldwide and ESPN+ in the U.S.
The ‘Go-Getter’ from Chatham spoke exclusively to Danny Flexen from SecondsOut all about his forthcoming title fight, taking place exactly two months on from his last win.
The Kent puncher fought twice in September and December last year, securing two shutout points wins over four-rounds, both bouts taking place at the Circus Tavern in Essex.
The 38-year-old, signed to Boxing Connected, revealed the details of latest training camp, “It’s gone great, no stone has been unturned. I was ready to fight over Christmas and we just carried on what we were doing. It’s a good fight, I can’t wait, I’m ready to turn up and do my thing.”
His 21st opponent is unbeaten in 14 bouts and after being involved in three WBO European championship bouts his name has rocketed up to fourth in the World Boxing Organisation’s world rankings, in touching distance of a shot at world champ Demetrius Andrade, who’s last three title defences have been to UK and Irish fighters.
Dennis heaped praised on Dignum, “I think he’s a good fighter, he’s been doing it for a long time, the fundamentals are definitely there for him, no doubt he can punch, no doubt he’s fit, no doubt he’s sharp, so we just prepare for the best Danny Dignum possible.”
Despite the respect shown, Dennis made it clear he’s the better man of the two, claiming, “There’s lots of things I know I can do better than Danny; he’s a good fighter but I just have to be switched on for the full 10-rounds and just focus on my gameplan and what I can do.”
This middleweight pair have a shared opponent in dangerous Russian Andrey Sirotkin (19-2-1, 7KOs), which neither man managed to win against.
Dennis took a risk by travelling to Belarus during the pandemic to tackle the hard-hitting southpaw but was downed four times before the fight was finished early in round eight of 10.
He reflected, “No excuses, I could say a few things that went on, but the better man won on the night. He caught me early and in the mid-rounds I was getting back into it, there were rounds where I was boxing his head off, but he caught me early and it shifted my gameplan.”
Dignum also struggled with Sirotkin, suffering two bad cuts on his left eye, but managed to reach the final bell to narrowly keep hold of his belt on a split decision draw. That was his last fight in April 2021.
Dennis is the third challenger to the Bowers Gifford man’s title, and he plans to make his chance count to push on in his career, “I win this title and who knows? I’ve been in the game long enough now; you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow; hopefully it can open up the doors the same way his team feel that it will for him by beating me. When I beat him, they’ll probably want a rematch, so I take each day as it comes.”
He then revealed just how he plans to dethrone the champion, “I can do a bit of everything, I like to call myself a chameleon – sharp hands, good footwork, good boxing IQ, I’m strong.
“I will adapt to what I need to. We’ve got a game plan and if it doesn’t work then we go to plan b or plan c.”
Dennis is almost 10-years Dignum’s senior at 38-years-old, but age is just a number according to him, “I feel young, I think it’s my genetics. I’m doing times now that I never used to be able to in my twenties; I feel like I’m in my prime now. I train every day anyway, not just when I’ve got a fight, so I keep youthful, I keep feeling great.”
Dennis wasn’t seen in a boxing ring in the first part of 2021, after his loss to Sirotkin, but was flown out to the MTK Fuerteventura gym in March to help Billy Joe Saunders prepare for his unification clash with Canelo last May.
During his eight-year professional career, Dennis has won Southern Area honours and British and International Challenge belts at middleweight, and once challenged for the English middleweight title but was contentiously outpointed by the home fighter, Elliot Matthews.
Trained by Veron Quammie and managed by Joe Elfidh, he is closely supported by his younger brother Jordan, who was a standout amateur and is unbeaten in four pro contests.
Despite occupying the away corner as the challenger on Friday night, he is going to be backed by a large number of vocal fans from Kent.
He added, “Support has been crazy, all my tickets are gone, I think we’ve got 130-140 people coming to watch.”
How to watch Danny Dignum vs Grant Dennis
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