Luke Blackledge waiting for news on Commonwealth title tilt
Clitheroe boxer Luke Blackledge is waiting on the Commonwealth Boxing Council to ratify his second title shot.
The 24-year-old WBC International Silver super middleweight supremo challenged Rocky Fielding’s reign in November last year but was counted out by referee Victor Loughlin after two minutes and 32 seconds of the opening round. Unbeaten Fielding, the newly-crowned WBA Inter-Continental champion after beating Noe Gonzalez Alcoba in July, relinquished the strap earlier in the year after failing to make the weight for his contest with Ghanaian Charles Adamu at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
Adamu, who has traded punches with Carl Froch and George Groves in the past, went the distance with Eddie Hearn’s hugely talented asset but lost unanimously on the judge’s scorecards.
Now Blackledge is hoping to face the ‘Crusader’ for the vacant strap at Blackburn King George’s Hall on November 22nd.
“I could be fighting for the Commonwealth title against Charles Adamu who went the distance with Rocky Fielding,” Alex Matvienko’s student said.
“We’ve just got to wait for the Commonwealth to approve the bout. I fought Rocky for it last time and I’ve learnt a lot of lessons from that. Hopefully I’ll get another shot at it.
“It’s a good advertisement for me because it shows I’ve fought my way back in to contention. I won’t be going in all guns blazing this time though.”
Blackledge, who will be walking out on to the pitch at Ewood Park ahead of Blackburn Rovers’s Championship clash with Reading on Saturday, added: “I sometimes tell Rocky that I want a rematch.
“I made a mistake last time and it became an easy nights work for him. Realistically I can’t expect a rematch though because he’s moved on. He’s one of the best fighters in the country and in the top 10 of the WBC’s world rankings. He’s doing well and he’s a world class fighter.
“It’s helped spur me on. It’s not knocked my confidence at all and it hasn’t knocked me back. I’ve changed camps, improved as a fighter and had some good wins since then.
“I’m in the gym every day and I’m learning and developing all the time so I feel I can make it to the top. It’s my dream to fight for a British or Commonwealth strap and then move on to a world title.
“I’ve come a long way since competing in unlicensed fights to keep me off the streets. I never thought I’d be in this position. I never even had an amateur career so I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I’m one of the best super middleweight fighters in Britain now and I’m ranked in the WBC.”