KELVIN Young is targeting a title shot before 2011 is out after he racked up the seventh win of his pro career against Dean Walker.

The Swindon middleweight outpointed his 32-year-old Sheffield opponent 40-37 in Chippenham on Saturday night, and is confident he is showing enough improvement to justify a title fight less than six months down the line.

That triumph came despite the ex-Penhill amateur injuring his hand in round two of the four-round contest, and he declared himself happy with his efforts at the Olympiad after showing the greater aggression throughout.

“Dean Walker has been in there with the best in his 45 fights and he’s only been stopped a handful of times, so it was always going to be tough,” said Young.

“He’s ranked 22 in Britain at super-middle and is a tough lad, so it was a good win.

“We’re now going to move onto six rounds and hopefully look for a southern Area title in September.

“I’ve got a new conditioner and strength worker that’s been putting me through my paces, and as we move up to six rounds he’s only going to make me fitter and stronger.

“The boxing skills are there, so it’s just plenty of work now, and hopefully I’ll get a title shot this year.”

Elsewhere, Swindon’s Andrew McCaffrey might have ended his bout with Robert Studzinski with a swelling black eye, but that did not wipe the smile off the face of the former kickboxer, who recorded his second win in three pro contests.

A difference in styles was evident from the early stages with 34-year-old debutant Studzinski relying on punching power, in contrast to the more technical approach adopted by McCaffrey.

It was the latter that won out 60-56 as the Pole began to tire significantly late on, and McCaffrey admitted afterwards that he had been pushed all the way.

“I didn’t really know what to expect from him because it was his first pro fight, and I didn’t know anything about his amateur career,” said McCaffrey.

“He came out and was so strong. He caught me and I was fuzzy a couple of times and felt my legs going, they were real good shots.

“In the fifth and sixth rounds I was tired but I knew he was a lot more tired than me, I was catching him with body shots and I knew it was ripping him apart.

“When you’re in there you don’t think you’re doing as well as you’re doing, but my people said it was the best fight they have seen me fight.”