Dean dropping a weight to step up

GEORDIE TO FIGHT AT SUPER MIDDLE TO MAKE HIS NAME IN PRO GAME

GEORDIE Dean Laing is dropping down a weight to try and step up his professional career.

Laing, who works out of Manchester with former British and European champion Pat Barrett, is coming home to star on a Black Flash Promotions bill at Dunston’s Lancastrian Suite on Friday night.

Having fought at light heavyweight in his five paid fights to date Dean drops to super middle to take on Chris Dutton before his own folk.

Once an amateur star with top club Birtley, Laing is determined to make his mark in the tough world of pro boxing having learned a valuable lesson when suffering his only defeat due to severe dehydration.

“I won’t be making that mistake again – I was so determined not to let anyone down I ended up letting myself down,” he told me.

“I think super middle is going to be my comfortable weight and I’m aiming to make rapid progress.

“I know Dutton is looking to get back on the winning trail and is making a bit of noise but I’m hungry to get the job down in a bit of style.”

Laing reached three Senior ABA semi-finals as well as boxing in two Haringey Cups and with the England squad when at Birtley and turned pro out of town after Barrett saw him fight his nephew Lyndon Arthur in one of his Elite semis.

Now Arthur and Laing are stable mates under Barrett’s guidance.

“I felt I was robbed against Lyndon and Pat liked what he saw because he got in touch and we talked for ages,” explained Laing.

“So when he made me an offer I jumped at it. I had done everything as an amateur and was finding it hard to get fights.”

Dean’s shock defeat came in his second pro bout against Edgars Sniedze – weak from trying to make the weight, he was knocked out.

“I wasn’t on the correct diet etc and got tucked up by the Sniedze camp,” insisted Laing.

“I never ate anything and hardly had a drink on the Thursday ready for the Friday weigh-in but Edgars didn’t show and I was told I would have to come back and weigh in on the day.

“We were also told on the grapevine that if I went in heavy my opponent would pull out.

“I had loads of people coming down from Newcastle and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone so I starved myself right up to the fight and paid the ultimate price.

“I won’t do that again. I’ll do what is good for me.”