Daily Star

SCOTTY’S BELT & BREAKFAST British Gjhgs champ gdfgafgfhg­fdreams of more big titles

Cat’s enormous!

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SCOTTY CARDLE had an unusual sleeping partner on the night he won the British lightweigh­t title – and now he wants a repeat performanc­e.

The Blackpool bruiser landed the vacant title with a unanimous points win over Craig Evans in May and will make his first defence in September.

And he’s hoping to have the same hotel sleeping arrangemen­t after the fight, revealing: “I slept all night with the belt beside me, after I won the British belt, and I aim to do it again.

“I had been dreaming of winning a major title like that since I first entered a gym at the age of seven, so taking it to bed seemed just right.

“I will now hopefully do exactly the same with it if I win next time. It really is the stuff of sweet dreams!”

The 25-year-old, who has won all 18 of his profession­al contests, is now dreaming of moving through the rankings to eventually get into the world title mix.

He said: “Now I have the British title, I aim to go along the traditiona­l route and go for the European crown and eventually the world title.

“I don’t really fear anyone and feel I have the ability to go all the way. No one has beaten me yet in the pro game and I want that to continue.

“Ever since I first entered a gym, I have been dreaming of making it right to the very top and I aim to make that dream come true.”

Cardle’s September opponent has yet to be named, but when he is the fighter will constantly figure in his thoughts.

Cardle said: “When I am build- ing up to a fight, I constantly think about my opponent and what he is likely to do.

“From the moment I wake up to the time I’m back in bed, I think about him being the reason I’m working so hard and putting myself through the pain during training.

“It’s my way of making him pay for all that effort and that kind of approach really means that I am motivated throughout the build-up to the fight.”

Cardle is trained by Joe Gallagher, whose Bolton gym is home to a host of top fighters, BARBEL angler Neil Bridges got the shock of the season when he landed a 94lb catfish from the River Severn.

Neil Bridges was legering a boilie over halibut pellets on the Birmingham Anglers Associatio­n stretch at Ripple.

It is believed to be the largest non-migratory fish ever caught in a river in this country and took over an hour to tame on 12lb line and a size 10 hook.

The 46-year-old farm shop owner, from Redditch, said: “I was faced with not having a including WBA super-bantamweig­ht champion Scott Quigg and WBA lightweigh­t challenger Anthony Crolla, who believes he was robbed of a title last week when judges gave a majority draw in a fight he appeared to have won.

Cardle said: “It’s a gym full of champions, from British to world belt holders, and you can’t help but learn from such people.

“It’s a great gym where we are all equal and train as a team.“

When I see the levels they and others in the gym have achieved, it acts as a great incentive for me to follow suit.

“I love this sport – I always have done.

“Now, with the British title, I am getting rewards for all my hard work and it makes me more determined than ever to achieve more.” Twitter: @kevinfranc­is1 or email

kevin.francis@dailystar.co.uk net capable of landing a fish over six feet so I had to rip off my shirt, wrap it round my hand, and then use it like a protective glove as I guided the fish into the bank by gripping its powerful bottom jaw.” DAVID Thomas, from Bridgend, took five hours to land the biggest-ever thresher shark taken off the Welsh coast at Milford Haven, Pembrokesh­ire. It was 12ft long and weighed 265lbs.

 ??  ?? BELTING CUPPA: Scotty relaxes in bed with his belt and a brew and, on the attack against Craig Evans
BELTING CUPPA: Scotty relaxes in bed with his belt and a brew and, on the attack against Craig Evans
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