Young takes it on the chin (From Swindon Advertiser)

Young takes it on the chin

6:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in Sport By Ned Payne

KELVIN Young admits tonight’s English middleweight title eliminator against Tony Hill will provide the most brutal test of his chin to date.

Young is bidding for his 10th consecutive win in the pro ranks at the Oasis against a man who fought Billy Joe Saunders for the vacant Commonwealth title back in April.

And while the powerhouse from Penhill admits he expects to receive punishment from Hill, he says he is ready for the challenge.

“It shows on his record that he’s a bit of a puncher, he’s got four knockouts out of his eight wins,” said Young.

“He’s probably the biggest puncher I’ve been in with since my amateur days.

“But I’ve done everything on a higher scale in preparation for this fight and I believe I’m ready.

“I’m not scare of taking big shots, I know I can take a shot. When you’re in there any one shot can knock anyone out, it’s all about luck and having a good defence.

“I’ve been working on that and I think I’m ready for the step up.”

Young weighed in two pounds heavier than his Southampton opponent at yesterday’s weigh-in at the Horseshoe Gym, the former totalling 11st 6lbs.

But the 25-year-old is adamant he is not the favourite against a southpaw used to coming up against a high calibre of opponent.

“I’ve won nine in a row and I’m confident, but obviously this is a big step up,” said Young.

“This is what I wanted, I wanted to feel inside that this was going to be the toughest fight of my life.

“It’s brought the best out of me in the training camp and I’m willing to go to hell and back to get the win.

“On paper I’m the underdog, Tony Hill has mixed it at a higher level even though he’s coming off a loss, but that was for the Commonwealth title, so this is a step down for him.

“There’s no shame in losing those last two fights, Billy Joe Saunders is Commonwealth champion and is probably going to go onto world level.

“He just lost out against Kerry Hope who went on to win the European title, so he’s boxed at the level that I’m hoping to get to one day.”

Hill’s southpaw stance has caused plenty of his opponents problems in the past, but Young believes he can deal with the Southampton man’s style.

“I’ve done plenty of sparring with southpaws, but there aren’t a lot about,” said Young.

“He has the advantage over me because 70 per cent of his opponents are probably orthodox.

“But I’ve been looking good against the southpaws I’ve sparred against and I’m confident I can go out and get a good win.”