LAWRENCE Bennett’s new manager Steve Goodwin is petitioning the British Boxing Board of Control to make his cruiserweight mandatory for the English title.

The self-styled ‘Bad Boy’ joined forces with Goodwin Promotions following three years with Swindon-based KM Promotions and Keith Mayo.

And the 32-year-old Southern Area champion is hoping that a change in management team will help push him towards a crack at the British crown.

But with current Lonsdale belt holder Ovill McKenzie set to face current English champion Matty Askin, Goodwin is hoping that the board will look to his new Swindonian for the English belt.

“The first thing that I’m doing is speaking to the board and asking them to make Lawrence mandatory for the English title,” Goodwin told the Advertiser.

“The current holder, Matty Askin, is fighting for the British title and I want to see if we can move Lawrence into that mandatory position – there is no reason why they shouldn’t.

“Lawrence is 32 and we need to move him on, and he will have his next fight by March.”

Goodwin, whose promotional company has good links with Matchroom Sport, feels that there is no reason why Bennett shouldn’t get his dream of fighting for a British title if he can continue his winning ways.

The southpaw won the Southern Area title in his sixth fight in March and followed that up by winning a British title eliminator this summer.

And while Bennett has become something of a puzzle when he steps between the ropes, Goodwin isn’t concerned that his new charge will be avoided like former British cruiserweight champion Rob Norton.

“What we have to do is keep Lawrence busy, keep him winning and getting him into those positions where people have to fight him for those belts,” Goodwin said.

“It doesn’t concern me how he is categorised. All that concerns is getting him in the positions where people can’t avoid him.”