WHILE Lenny Daws and Jason Cook will headline this Friday night (February 12) at York Hall, an intriguing contest forms the chief support. Johnny Eames-trained Michael Grant (12-1, one KO) will face off against Steve Williams (8-0, three early), with the aim of taking the vacant English light-welterweight title back to Tottenham with him. Grant is very excited to have the chance to fight for the pretigious belt.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Grant beamed. “I was meant to fight Steve Williams before, but he pulled out with a cold. It's going to be great to get in there and win that English Title and to finally get a belt around my waist.

“Preparations have gone well. We had a squad out in Tenerife and spent 10 days there, and I've just been picking it up in the last few weeks. Everything's going great.”

The 2005 ABA winner continued, “I've been sparring with Kevin Mitchell. Also, I've done work with a few of the amateurs down at the gym, for the speed and Jamal Morrison, who was meant to be fighting Matthew Hatton before that one fell through. He comes forward, just like I've been told Williams does.”

Grant readily admitted that he doesn't have too much information on undefeated Merseyside man Williams. "I don't know much about him," he revealed. "I haven't seen him fight. [Trainer] Johnny [Eames] said that he came down to the gym one time, and that he's strong and comes forward. This will suit me down to the ground because I'll be doing what I do. I'll box off the back foot and wait for him to come in.”

Being an English Title fight, the contest will take place over 10 rounds, which Michael believes suits him well. “I love the fact it's my first 10-rounder,” he declared. “Over the longer distances, I'll get stronger as it goes on. Since I was an amateur, I've always wanted to hold a title as a pro, and hopefully I'll win this and maybe get on to bigger things. Lenny Daws and Jason Cook are fighting at the top of the bill I'm on, and I hope I can get the winner of that.”

In his last outing, Michael lost due to a cut in the third round of his Prizefighter quarter-final bout against the aforementioned Welshman Jason Cook. He blames this partly on the shorter (three-threes) distance but acknowledges it was a good learning experience.

“As I was getting stopped, I was just getting warmed up,” the confident Londoner remarked. “I felt I was taking over, but then it was stopped. I much prefer the longer distances, and I was making silly mistakes because of the shorter time. That's why there was that clash of heads which led to the cut."

Even though the cut stopped the fight, Grant belives there are some positives to be taken from it. “It's healing great,” the skillful southerner asserted. “It's not healed fully yet, but I'm good to go and I can't wait. I'm not going to be that close for the cut to be a problem anyway. I'm going to go and in and out and be on my toes. In my sparring now, I'm always cautious with my eye, and my hands are up on the inside and outside. It was very good for learning.”

Supposing Cook beats Daws in their British title fight, Michael was very keen on rematching the Maestaeg banger, saying, “I would love it. I wouldn't have a problem with him over the distance. The same goes with Daws, I think I could beat him. I don't really mind though. Johnny knows more about people than I know, and I'll just train however he tells me to. I'm not bothered - I'll fight whoever they put in front of me.”

Grant had a concluding message for all Boxing News Online readers. He proclaimed, “Everyone tune in, because I will soon be the new English Champion!”