TROWBRIDGE’S Dan Blackwell was delighted to hold his nerve in front of his home fans and claim victory over Dee Mitchell at the Civic Centre at the weekend.

The 20-year-old super-middleweight, younger brother of two-time British middleweight title challenger Nick, notched up his second victory in seven days as he won an exciting contest with 36-year-old Birmingham fighter Mitchell 40-37.

Blackwell, who is used to life on the road as a journeyman, admits that he had to step out of his comfort zone due to the pressure of being the home man in Trowbridge.

“When you do what I do – going away – you haven’t got any pressure on you but when you’ve got people behind you, it’s a bit different,” said the Contender Gym fighter.

“I’m used to fighting away and when you’ve got everyone shouting behind you, you’re forced to come forward and throw more shots. I’m more of a counter-puncher but I had to step on my front foot this time.

“I was meant to fight Dean Walker but I found out that he’d broken his jaw in his last fight – he didn’t know until two days before the fight.

“I had to put weight on for Dean Walker and then I was told that I had to lose weight for Mitchell but in the end, he weighed in four pounds heavier than me.

“I’ve fought for the last three weeks and that’s just the way it is. I just look at it like sparring when I’m out on the road because I’m young and I’ve got time on my side.

“Having a full-time job as a bricklayer is tough too because it’s pretty physical and I’ve got a six-week-old newborn as well (Lily). It’s hard but that’s life and you’ve got to deal with it. She’s the best thing in the world.”

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