Luke Blackledge lists big fights he wants to be in this year
WBC International Silver super-middleweight champion Luke Blackledge 18(6)-2(2)-2 names a host of British fighters that he would like to face during 2015.
The all-action super-middleweight takes to the ring on Saturday 28th February at Guild Hall, Preston for his 23rd professional contest in a standard six rounder with opponent to be confirmed. “I want all the big fights now because it’s been a good few months since winning the WBC title and I haven’t been offered anything,” said Blackledge. “I was offered the Andre Dirrell fight in the USA but that’s a jump up the ladder for me. He’s at world level and I’m British level right now.”
He continued, “I’ve done the jump up before when I fought Skoglund in Denmark and it didn’t work out for me, it was good experience on a big stage but not a lot of people got to see it in the UK so it didn’t do a lot for me exposure-wise.”
When quizzed on the fights he would ideally like to be taking right now, the former Commonwealth challenger reeled off a whole host of British fighters in and around the top ten of the talented super-middleweight division. “I’d love to fight Buglioni, Callum Smith, David Brophy or Liam Cameron who’s just beaten Tobias Webb,” the 24-year-old Lanky stated. “I keep getting rejected by them all. Buglioni’s one, Andrew Robinson rejected me, Lee Markham; there were even more than that that I can’t think of now. I don’t know why, maybe because it’s just a risky fight. If you’re boxing then you should be in it for the big fights.
“I think Frank is a big step up for me and it will be a big fight that the public would want to see. I’ve got a good ranking now – I’m rated eighth in the UK, in the top 40 with the WBC, and top 60 in the world so I deserve to be fighting good fighters and not foreign journeymen.
“I feel like I need a good step up and Frank Buglioni will be a good test for me and will bring the best out of me He’s a good fighter and he’s got a better ranking in the UK than me.”
The hugely popular heavy-handed Frank Buglioni rocketed up the rankings by blasting away nine of his first 12 opponents between 2011 and 2014. Impressively, Buglioni had started his career by stopping two opponents in the first round in November 2011– the respective fights just two weeks apart. A surprise loss to Sergey Khomitsky at the Copper Box Arena last April is the only blemish upon his impressive record conceding his WBO European super-middleweight title as a result. The ‘Wise Guy’ took a step back and collected the Southern Area super-middleweight title with a resounding win over Sam Couzens three months later in July; then, after another stoppage win two months later over Alexy Ribchev, he was ready to win back his title from the undefeated Andrew Robinson to finish off the year as he started it – as the WBO European super-middleweight champion. “Me and Buglioni should fight for the British, Paul Smith has just sat on it for ages, he’s not defended it so he should let someone else fight for it,” finished Blackledge.
The 24-year-old Clitheroe fighter has been involved in seven title fights in under two years collecting the WBC International Silver super-middleweight title from Philip Kotey in Blackburn in September last year, and two Masters titles in 2012. His biggest fight to date came in the form of unbeaten Liverpool favourite Rocky Fielding when he challenged for his Commonwealth title in November 2013 in unfavourable circumstances when given just three days notice to fight. The challenger was counted out by referee Victor Loughlin after just two minutes and 32 seconds of the opening round.
Blackledge explained the conditions at the time, “I took that fight on a Thursday and fought Rocky on the Saturday. I got the phone call after a hard six round spar with Ronnie Heffron – no one should be sparring in the week before they’re due to fight so that was the first mistake!
“If the opportunity come up then yeah, I’d like a rematch, and obviously I think I’ve earned my shot at Rocky again. I need to maybe fight for the British title or an eliminator, I don’t just expect a rematch but I’d like one in the future, one day.” Blackledge recently notched up another win on his already respectable record with a shut-out points victory over Bulgarian, Konstantin Alexandrov 3-4-0 in Blackburn on November 22nd but it was an easy night’s work for the home fighter.
“That last fight were like a last minute step in because I couldn’t get an opponent. I’m definitely ready for a step up. If I’ve got a six week training camp or more then I feel I’ve got a good chance with anyone. My promoter has said he needs a top of the bill fight for the show in April and that he’ll put me in for a title fight.”
For tickets to the fight on Saturday 28th February visit Luke Blackledge's official website here
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