Moray professional boxer Fraser Wilkinson gets ready for a Highland Skirmish this weekend and a Ballroom Blitz in Aberdeen to prepare him for a possible title shot
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FRASER Wilkinson is targeting two more professional boxing wins in the next month to line up a shot at the Celtic title.
The 21-year-old Moray fighter has won his first three pro bouts and is confident of landing a fourth tomorrow against Mancunian Josh Cook in the Highland Skirmish event at Inverness Leisure Centre.
Then on June 25, ‘Wilko’ returns to the ring for the Ballroom Blitz at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom for what should be the sternest test of his short career.
He will then fight Kynoch Boxing Scotland team-mate Paddy Pollock, an experienced 36-year-old who still harbours hopes of one last shot at a Scottish title which Wilkinson is determined to deny him.
For now, the Elgin Amateur Boxing Club product is planning to take his second successive Inverness victory into his Aberdeen show.
Cook has been drafted in to fight Wilkinson after three potential overseas rivals with good professional records were all withdrawn from the bill.
His new opponent is the biggest yet faced by super welterweight Wilkinson, with Saturday’s fight expected to be a middleweight event as Cook’s last bout was at light heavyweight.
“Everything has gone well in training and I’m raring to go and get another win under the belt,” Wilkinson said.
“We’ve had to take on a short notice opponent, who is a good journeyman. He’s a big lad who has been in the ring 11 times before.
“It will be a good test for me to see how I cope with the bigger opponent.
“I have another step up in class on June 25 (against Pollock) so that should be good.
“That will be my last step towards a title shot.
“The plan is, we are looking at a couple of Irish opponents now and I’m aiming to fight for the Celtic title in September.
“Paddy Pollock wants to fight for a Scottish title again so Sam (promoter Kynoch) has told him he has to beat me and if he doesn’t then he won’t get to fight for it.”
Hopeman lad Wilkinson’s professional career began last September with a points win over Dale Arrowsmith in Glasgow, and he went on to defeat Seamus Devlin at the same venue two months later.
His last fight was his most impressive yet, as a scheduled six-round bout against Jordan Latimer at Inverness’ Ironworks failed to reach the end of the first round, with Wilkinson thrilling his big following with a technical knockout.
“Myself and my coach Ratch (Paul Gordon) have been speaking about people expecting me to be a big hitter after my last win.
“My job now is to make sure when I do hit them, I can take them by surprise.”
Wilkinson shares the same self-confidence as all the top boxers and feels he is on his way to better things.
“I’m at the stage right now where I feel unbeatable.
“I am sparring with all the top boys in the country and I do think after my fight in June, most boys will be running when they hear me getting put into the next show,” he added.
