KELVIN Young’s manager Keith Mayo insists his IBO super-middleweight inter-continental champion is under no pressure to deliver a knock-out performance on June 7.

The Penhill pugilist will make his first defence of the title he won by beating Bulgarian Alexey Ribchev at the Oasis Leisure Centre next month with one thing missing from his 18-fight record - a stoppage win.

Young came close to delivering that knock-out display in his last outing, an eight-round non-title contest against Tomas Kugler, but despite having had his Czech Republic opponent in trouble in the second round, the 27-year-old did not go in for the kill and he went on to claim his 15th points success.

But as Young Gun plots a path to the top of the IBO 168lb tree, Mayo is more concerned that Young retains his crown than stopping his opponent.

“Stoppages are always nice,” Mayo said. “It would be good. If it happens, it happens, but it is more important to get the win.

“We don’t want Kelvin to take chances and leave himself open to get knocked out.

“The good thing with Kelvin is that he is getting better all the time, he is stepping up, he has been at super-middleweight for well over a year now and he has grown into it - there are exciting times are ahead.”

With Mayo still trying to finalise a deal to secure the challenger for Young, hopes of a bout with Nicolas Dion are fading after he suffered a points defeat to Maciej Sulecki for the vacant Republic of Poland International super-middleweight crown on Saturday night.

Prior to that defeat in Brodnica, the 32-year-old from Grenoble had racked up 10 successive wins, including a second round knock-out of Misa Nikolic, a Serbian journeyman who has been stopped 17 times in his 27 losses.

Mayo added: “We are still trying to agree term with Nicolas Dion, it is hard work, it might come off.

“If not then we are looking at another French lad, but we want Nicolas, he has a good record, he is tough lad, it will be a good bout for Kelvin.”

Mayo will also be keeping a close eye on proceedings in Columbia this weekend (May 17) when local fighter Alexander Brand squares up against American Don George for the vacant IBO world title.

Should Young successfully defend his crown next month, the 27-year-old will be aiming to face another top 35 IBO ranked opponent for an opportunity to battle for the main strap.

“Kelvin is defending his belt in June and then he will defend it again,” Mayo said. “Fingers crossed he will then have a chance at the world title.”