Lennox Clarke teams up with a new coach
Halesowen's Lennox Clarke has teamed up with a former champion to get him on the fast track to titles in 2017.
Avoided Clarke continues to keep-busy with an eight-round contest at Walsall Football Club on Friday February 17,
The 25-year-old tops a four-fight dinner show in the Stadium Suite at the Banks's titled 'Battleground,' staged by Errol Johnson's Black Country Boxing.
And the unbeaten super middleweight might have a few more tricks up his sleeve, after taking on ex-pro Malcolm Melvin as his new coach. Johnson still serves as his manager.
Brummie Melvin, who turns 50 on Sunday, won a Midlands super lightweight belt outright and also challenged for British, Commonwealth and WBF world honours.
He's been working with Clarke, who came into the pro game in November 2013 with just seven bouts of unlicensed boxing experience, at his Acocks Green gym.
Now Clarke is determined to show off his improvement when Polish roadblock Bartlomiej Grafka is in the other corner at the home of the Saddlers.
'Dangerous' has 14 wins from 14 attempts with six TKOs, four in the first round and two in the second. He now wants to become only the fifth man to halt Bartlomiej Grafka in 47 attempts.
Grafka, 28, extended former British and Commonwealth boss and two-time world title challenger Paul Smith six rounds in Liverpool last year and won a session on the way.
Puncher Clarke will be looking to make a big statement against Grafka, though, and move into position to face English champion Jahmaine Smyle later in the year.
Three further contest support him at the Banks's with Brad Foster, who is signed to a deal with Frank Warren, scheduled for six rounds.
Former world kickboxing champion Foster, from Lichfield and still a teenager at just 19, is looking for an opponent around flyweight after Brett Fidoe's withdrawal.
West Bromwich's Joshua Stokes punches for pay for the first time after a successful amateur career.
The 19-year-old was a 2011 junior ABA national title winner and competed in last year's England Elite competition, representing Wodensborough Boxing Club.
The teenager now follows older brother Tom into the paid code as a light heavyweight, opening with four rounds against the game Mitch Mitchell.
Connor Parker, a super lightweight from Swadlincote in Derbyshire, boxes in the West Midlands for the first time.
Parker, 21, turned over with a landslide points win over James Gorman in December and now tackles former English title hopeful Liam Richards.
Tickets, priced at £35 standard or £60 VIP with a two-course meal, are still available by dialling the Walsall FC Box Office on 01922 651 414, extension 416.
The Grosvenor Casino Walsall, on Bentley Mill Way, are sponsoring the bill and will host the after-show party (over 18).
A number of free cars, supplied by Yellow Taxis, will go from the fight venue to the function directly after the final bell.
